Elected officials, community members and student-athletes joined Peoria Fire Department personnel Friday for an open house to celebrate the new Station 16 on Northmoor Road.
The $5 million facility, funded in part by a state grant, boasts updated technology aimed at improving response times and advanced initiatives to ensure firefighters’ health and safety.
“What you see here today is a highly efficient, very high quality fire station that’s going to house seven firefighters, 24 hours a day,” said Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger. “We’re very, very proud of the work that was performed here.”
The new Station 16 replaces what had been the department’s oldest station still in service. That facility was demolished last February to clear the space for its replacement.
“We went through an evaluation process: Is this the right location? Because with the state grant funding, we weren’t pigeon-holed to just be here. So going through our data analysis, our heat maps, GPS – and lo and behold, this was the best place for this station to be,” said Sollberger, adding that a replacement for Station 16 had been in the works for at least seven years.
Sollberger said the station, which opened for service six weeks ago, stands as result of collaboration among city leaders and elected officials, contractors, and fire service personnel.
“Today is a great reminder that a fire station is more than a building. It’s where highly trained professionals stand ready at all hours of the day, not knowing what the next call will bring, but always prepared to respond,” said Mayor Rita Ali.
“What stands here today reflects how far we’ve come, not just in technology, but in how we care for our community members and our firefighters.”
The station will be the permanent home for Engine 16 and Truck 14. Among the upgrades from the former facility are a diesel exhaust mitigation system and specialized equipment for cleaning fire gear.
“This is the busiest station in North Peoria; when you get north of War Memorial Drive, this is the busiest station. It serves three schools, five nursing homes,” said City Manager Patrick Urich.
“I really want to thank the neighborhood who’s had to put up with the disruption for over a year of us making a mess here as we tore down the old station and then rebuilt in place. We look forward to serving you.”
The new station also becomes the department’s first one with a community room to hold neighborhood meetings and other events.
“This is a public building, and to be able to draw your community into your space, I think that that’s pretty rewarding as well,” said Sollberger.
State Sen. Dave Koehler, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth and Peoria City Council member Andre Allen also spoke during the presentation, while fellow council members Zach Oyler and Denis Cyr were a part of the large crowd that included several Richwoods High School student-athletes.
“I can’t think of anything more uplifting than to have a new fire station in a neighborhood, because a fire station represents kind of the center of the community,” said Koehler.
“Projects like this do not happen by accident. They happen through purpose, intentionality and collaboration,” added Allen, who went on to give a direct message to the firefighters who will staff the new station.
“It is our hope that this investment reflects not only our gratitude, but also our thankfulness, and that this provides a safe space for you to support both your physical and your mental demands that this job creates.”
