August 15, 2023 – Decatur’s newest fire station is now open, marking the end of a 13-year citywide firehouse modernization project.
“The best part about the building is being able to provide a better service to our citizens,” Lt. Jeff Snyder said about the newly built Fire Station 7, located on Decatur’s east side.
In 2010, the City began examining the Decatur Fire Department’s existing fire stations, searching for ways to improve response time, service coverage and firefighters’ experiences while at work. Today, local leaders from the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Decatur joined firefighters and the community for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of Fire Station 7, located at 3540 E. Chestnut Ave. Station 7 was formerly located on the grounds of the Decatur Airport, and its new location will allow DFD to better serve the areas south and east of Lake Decatur.
Decatur Fire Department Chief Jeff Abbott said when he initially began researching potential sites for a new location, he found that a fire chief in the 1960s recommended the City should build its southern fire station on the Chestnut Ave property, adjacent to U.S. Route 36. Instead, Station 7 was constructed near the airport, but Abbott said he’s glad it’s finally moved to the new location.
“I’m really happy that this got moved over here because it seems like the majority of the population of the people on the east side of Lake Decatur are over here,” Abbott said. “That’s not to say there’s not people [in other areas], and it can get to those people very quickly by going to 44th Street.”
Mayor Julie Moore-Wolfe, DFD Chief Jeff Abbott and Chamber President Mirinda Rothrock cut the ribbon at the new Station 7.
Two houses formerly sat on the site, and the new Station 7 is situated in a neighborhood with houses surrounding it on the south and west. Abbott said he likes that the new station is so close to families, and he hopes it encourages community members to build a relationship with firefighters.
“I don’t like our fire stations being isolated where people don’t feel free to just walk by and stop by and bring their kids in,” Abbott noted. “They’re not going to pull out of here every time with lights and sirens on disturbing the whole neighborhood—they’re going to be good neighbors.”
The new facility features a full gym, kitchen, living area, private bunks for on-call firefighters and the latest alert technology. Lt. Snyder said the upgraded amenities will allow the station’s staff to more effectively serve the community.
“You can’t go anywhere in the station without having a speaker where you can hear calls,” Snyder said. “There’s TV screens in multiple spots where we can see calls whenever they’re coming in, and we can know where we’re headed before we even get to the truck. We have a lot more space, better cooking facilities and a better gym than the station this took the place of.”
The new station, built for $3.11 million, is the third the City has completely rebuilt throughout the revitalization project. Mayor Julie Moore-Wolfe said she’s proud of the positive improvements Station 7 will bring to DFD at large and she’s happy firefighters have top-of-the-line working and living conditions.
“A lot of our senior living facilities are right here, so we needed to make sure our firefighters could get to the people that needed them the most as fast as they can,” Moore-Wolfe said. “We want them to have a really good home because we need them sharp when they’re coming to help us.”
The previous building will now be occupied by the Decatur Airport’s private firefighting force. After the ribbon-cutting, Station 7 was open for community members and officials to tour, talk with firefighters and celebrate with refreshments.
