The Burlington Fire Department’s mission is to be the premier emergency response agency in southeast Iowa, a goal that would be helped by a new fire station and training facility, TheHawkEye.com reported.

Addressing the Burlington City Council on Monday, a fire official laid out the department’s plans for a new fire station that will serve the northwest portion of Burlington that lies outside of the four-minute drive time from Central Fire Station and Station 2, the report said.

The fire department and city officials for months have been laying the groundwork for the construction of a new station, complete with a four-story training facility, to replace the makeshift station inside the Black Hawk Food Services building at 3400 West Mount Pleasant Street, where Station 3 has been located since October 2018, the report said.

The next steps in the process for the new station and training facility include expanding the fire station committee to more community members and finalization of the committee’s draft request for qualifications, the report said.

Pierce—Minneapolis (MN) Fire Department, 100-foot medium-duty, tillered aerial ladder. Arrow XT tractor and chassis; Detroit Diesel DD13 505-hp engine; Harrison 8-kW generator. Dealer: Brad White, MacQueen Emergency, Apple Valley, MN.

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Dalton Fire District is looking to take some strain off its overcrowded station at 20 Flansburg Avenue, BerkshireEagle.com reported.

District heads have targeted the former Dalton Garage, located just across the street. But before they move in, the district will need town approval and a competitive bid, the report said.

The fire department needs more space for its equipment and offices, especially after adding some services in the last two years, a fire official said.

The department’s biggest constraint has been housing and operating its ambulance service. Running the ambulance has added eight full-time staff members to the department who need a place to work, and the emergency vehicle itself takes up space in an already cramped station, according to the report.

The garage, at 385 Main Street, was listed at about $750,000, the report said. With competitive bidding, the fire official expects the building will likely go between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Plans are moving forward to build a new fire station in the city of Moorhead (MN), WDAYRadio.com reported. 

Moorhead Fire Department’s Interim Chief Jeff Wallin, speaking with WDAY on The Coffee Club recently, said the department is still working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and is in negotiations for land for Station No. 3. He expects a more comprehensive plan once the fire chief selection process is completed in the next month or 45 days, according to the report.

Wallin did not say when groundbreaking for the new station might happen.