Study recommends two more fire stations

Red Wing will need not one but two new fire stations in the next 20 years, according to a recently finalized fire study.

Phil Kouwe, a consultant with Emergency Services Consulting, who helped author the study and master plan, highlighted its findings Tuesday for the Red Wing City Council.

Based on the city’s projected growth, especially to the west, additional stations will be needed to ensure adequate response times, Kouwe said.

“I guess the bad news is you can’t do it with one fire station,” Kouwe said.

He added that even the Prairie Island and Highway 19 areas — both spanning the city’s western corridor — are too far apart.

“You can’t hit them with one shotgun blast, so to speak,” Kouwe said, explaining the need for two additional stations.

Firefighters and council members agreed one station isn’t enough.

“We’ve realized the city has grown beyond our capabilities,” interim Fire Chief Tom Schneider said. “It’s nice to have a third party recognize that.”

He added that recently retired Fire Chief Mike Amendolar was the first to call for the study, and it would be his legacy.

The council formally accepted the plan and said it would begin working on its recommendations immediately.

In addition to calling for more fire stations, the document also calls for equipment upgrades and enhancing the department’s staff.

Tags: news, fire, stations