IL City Could Close Its Busiest Fire Station Next Year

An Illinois city could possibly close its busiest fire station as part of a cost-saving move.

The proposal by Decatur's city manager would shut down Station No. 1 in 2021, WAND-TV reports. It's one of 13 possible budget cuts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that the city is looking at.

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Crews from Fire Station No. 1 responded to more than 20 percent of all the city's calls last year, the firefighters union told WAND. This year, the firefighters at that station have responded to a quarter of the city's calls, according to the union.

The closing, the union said, also would lay off 27 firefighters. And in an online appeal, the union is urging residents to contact lawmakers so that the closing might be averted.

"The decision to close Station 1 would dramatically affect the safety of our citizens and inner city Decatur," the firefighters union stated in a social media post. "Decatur cannot afford to lose any more firefighters, let alone our busiest station."

City council members set aside $3 million to build a new Station No. 3, and the council will be looking into a new Station No. 7, according to WAND.