This study examines site location options for a new fire station in Stoneham, Massachusetts. A review of relevant literature supports the assertion that strategic location, understood in terms of optimum response time to fire and related emergencies in the target area and the region within that area where most such services are required, is the primary consideration in selecting a new fire station site. Data generated by a survey of area fire chiefs who also participated in building a new fire station supports the assertion that response time and strategic location are the most vital considerations when planning a new fire station. The report concludes with recommendations that Stoneham's strategic planning unit and Town Meeting give further consideration to the feasibility of rebuilding on the existing centralized, strategically located fire station site.
The location of fire stations is one of the most important decisions a community can make (Cote, 2002). Often a fire station is located in response to past growth; site selection, according to Cote (2002), should be preemptive rather than reactive. Future growth projections, along with existing deployment and event trends, must be considered in making a decision regarding the location of a new fire station. Most fire stations operate at a specific location for fifty to seventy-five years. The town of Stoneham, Massachusetts, is unique in that it has only one fire station, which was built in 1916 and partially renovated in 1991; thus, Stoneham now faces the challenge of improving upon its existing fire station by building a new facility that meets community needs.
Cope (2002) commented that when a community is considering construction of a new fire station, future growth projections (including the location and types of land uses) must be considered when a site for a fire station is being sought. This suggests that the design team must project up to fifty years to at...