Though it’s been serving the community since July, London’s fire department officially opened its newest fire station, aimed at improving response time in the city’s southwest end.
The facility, formally named London Fire Department Station 11 and situated on Savoy St., just southwest of Wharncliffe and Bostwick roads, replaces the former Station 11 at Westminster Dr. and Colonel Talbot Rd., which opened in 1992.
Now, 25 years later, the department said it needed to respond to changes in London’s make-up. A statement from the City of London says the relocation “has not only improved the response times to emergency calls in Lambeth and adjacent neighbourhoods, including Westmount and South London, but also through improved secondary support throughout the south end of the city.”
Station 11 welcomed the public for tours Friday to celebrate its official opening to the community.
Fire Chief John Kobarda said the change better enables his team to navigate the city with quick response times.
“Council’s ongoing support of our Master Fire Plan, with the Station 11 project being a key component, has allowed us to improve emergency service through reduced response times to Lambeth and the surrounding communities while remaining within our existing operating budget,” he said.
The building cost $2,263,460 and features a number of technical upgrades that didn’t exist in the original building. The space is fully accessible and was designed so that over 75 per cent of the building has natural lighting and exterior views.
The building also features automatic lighting controls and a “high-performance building envelope.” Environmental considerations were also made, with an on-site bioswale for run-off of water from the parking lot, as well as landscaping designed for drought resistance.