It's the motto of firefighters: "every second counts." That's one reason why Wausau's west-side fire department is looking for a new location.
The station currently sits in a residential neighborhood on South 32nd Avenue. Aside from the fact that the building is aging, officials say a new location could better serve the community, as well as improve their emergency response time.
To determine where the best location will be, a six-month $53,000 study is being conducted by Emergency Service Consulting International, a firm hired by the city. The study will look at different factors, such as population, response calls, and when and where those calls come in.
"We have a lot of industrial development out in that area and that side of the city is developing at a fast pace," says Michael Loy, Wausau's Human Resources Director. "We wanted to make sure we could serve that part of the city long-term."
The study will also assess how fire crews can work together and cut costs, by looking at staff levels, equipment, and costs of other fire crews including Rib Mountain, Weston, Rothschild and Schofield.
Those behind the study hope to move and rebuild the firehouse within the next five years.
