Why is station 6 being closed?
Station 6, located at the corner of Prospect and Fremont Streets, was constructed in the mid-1950s. It no longer meets minimum fire station safety standards due to the living space’s proximity to contaminated turnout gear and needs extensive building upgrades. The cost to make these repairs will add additional debt burden to city taxpayers. The two new stations on King Street are well equipped to cover fire response for the City of Lancaster.
Will this closure result in layoffs?
No. Staff stationed at Station 6 will be redeployed at the existing stations and a second aerial purchased in 2019 will be placed into full-time service. This unit has dual capabilities – both aerial and pump. The resulting configuration will mean that the city is covered 24/7/365 by four pieces of apparatus (2 engines, 2 aerials) and 4 platoons comprised of 67 frontline staff.
When will this decision go into effect?
January 1, 2024.
What is the cost to renovate or build a new station?
The cost to renovate Station 6 to achieve minimum safety standards was estimated to be between $5.3-$6.3M. (Please note that these are not updated estimates. Construction costs are now likely higher.) The two new fire stations constructed on East (Station 1) and West (Station 3) King Street totaled $13.6M.
Choosing to renovate or build a new station on the site of the current Station 6 will result in additional debt burden and tax increases. For reference, raising property taxes 1mill approximates an increase in revenues of $2.5M.
Will my homeowner’s insurance increase because of the closure of Station 6?
No. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) Rating, which calculates how well-equipped fire departments are to put out fires in the community, has rated Lancaster as a 3 out of 10 (1 is the best, 10 is the worst). Insurance companies use this rating to determine proper insurance rates for structures within the city. Closure of Station 6 will not affect your homeowner’s insurance or our ISO rating.
Will this closure affect response time?
During the construction of two new stations on East and West King, the city was effectively operating with two fire stations in the city, and one in Manheim Township. This provided an opportunity to assess response times, specifically in the south of the city. Between 2020–2022, the average response time for first-alarm, reported structure fires met or exceeded the standard set by the National Fire Protection Association.
What has the City done to invest in the Fire Bureau?
In addition to completing two new stations at a cost of $13.6M, the City has also invested $3.2M in new apparatus. In 2022, 15 new firefighters joined the ranks representing the largest class of firefighters to join the Bureau at once.
What will happen to the property?
The property will be transferred to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster, per ordinance, to be sold. The buyer will be responsible for complying with all applicable land development requirements.
