Wichita City Council members have approved funding for land acquisition and design work for two new fire stations.
The city is planning to add ten new stations over the next ten years, but the Wichita Fire Department is moving ahead with plans for two stations at this time. The Council approved $1 million in funding for 2024 for preliminary steps.
Fire Chief Tammy Snow said one site is in the Pawnee and Maize Road area, and she said that is the most favorable location for response times in southwest Wichita. She said the city’s property management team is still negotiating with the owner of the site. Another site is in the 29th Street North and Ridge Road area, and the city is looking at some options north of that area. The $1 million authorized by the Council would be used for the first property that the city is able to acquire.
The city currently has 23 fire stations, and one is jointly operated with Sedgwick County. The 23rd station was recently added as a temporary station and it’s a supplement to Station 7 while the Amidon Bridge between 13th Street and 21st Street is undergoing reconstruction.
