Construction of a new fire station is under way on a 2.5-acre parcel on Royalton Road just west of Pearl Road.
City Council authorized the project after voters approved the rezoning of six parcels of land in 2023 and 2024. The city then hired DS Architecture to design the building.
The department has experienced a 200 percent increase in call volume since 2004 as response times continue to increase beyond the national standard of four minutes. The new station should re-duce demand on the current resources and lower response times to all areas.
The 14,489-square-foot building will include three drive-through vehicle bays, offices, a training room and living quarters for up to seven firefighters. An emergency signal will be placed on Royalton Road in front of the station to assist with fire vehicles exiting.
The city has hired RFC Contracting, a Strongsville company, to handle construction at an estimated $9.6 million. The project should be completed by first quarter 2027.
Fire Chief Jack Draves said “the plan for a new fire station in the center of the city has been in the works for several years. The station is needed to ensure there are plenty of medical and fire resources strategically placed throughout the city. The station should help de-crease response times throughout the city and make additional resources available as the number of simultaneous calls grows.”