Muncie’s planned new fire station now has a location on the city’s east side.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, the city has already approved building – instead of renovating – the current Fire Station 6.

Consultants say the current Muncie Fire Station 6 is not large enough or equipped to be a modern fire station. (Photo: Google Maps)

The current Fire Station 6 is a converted home along McCullough Park on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near the intersection with Centennial Avenue.  It’s more than 70 years old.  It will be replaced with a new building at the corner of MLK and Highland Avenue, farther south along the park.

In a statement, the Muncie mayor’s office says the new location will include larger living quarters and three bays – over the current two – for fire and ambulance vehicles.

Muncie Fire Chief Dan Burford has previously said the new building will also include safety features like storage for firefighting gear that pushes harmful debris out of the station, so it doesn’t sicken firefighters.

“Well, those carcinogens get into our bunker gear that we wear in the fires.  They absorb into our skin as it is.  Studies and the tests have shown that those carcinogens from that gear will float around in the air.”

After proposing rebuilding two fire stations in March 2023, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour brought a proposal for one station rebuild at a cost of about $8 million to the city council in October of that year.

That council and the one seated in January of 2024 agreed that fire station conditions do need to be addressed, but have questioned the overall cost and the mechanics on how to pay for it.

In May, the Muncie City Council approved using bonds to fund the new facility, at a cost not to exceed $8.7 million.

According to Thursday’s statement, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour says the new location has been discussed with the city’s parks department and several city council members.  That discussion did not happen at a public meeting.  City communications director Michele Owen says she does not believe the new location needs official city council approval.

The city says there is no start date yet for the new station’s construction.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.