At the regular May, 2010 meeting of the West Grove Fire Company, the membership affirmed its long-term strategic plan to build a new fire sub-station in London Britain township by authorizing a budget for construction and buying a new fire engine.

Planning and work on this project has been in the making for years, as a core component of the WGFC long-term strategic plan has always been to have additional station locations to speed emergency response, rather than a concept built upon a central station. The plan had its first major success with the 1993 opening of fire company operations in New London.

Since then, the company has been carefully considering expanding in the area of Flint Hill Road and Route 896 in London Britain township. When London Britain township expanded its park several years ago, the supervisors set aside a two acre parcel of land for potential use as a fire station. That parcel of ground, available to the fire company long term for $1.00 per year, is about to become Station 32, the third of WGFC's locations - the main station is in West Grove and the second station is in New London.

At its meeting, the fire company membership affirmed the early planning on the project, setting aside a budget for site preparation and building construction. The company also authorized spending money to purchase a new fire truck that would expand the company's fleet so that a fire engine could be available at the new station. A finance committee was also formed to review options on how to pay for the overall project.

Work is already underway at the site, along Route 896, just north of Flint Hill Road. The township is building Phase One of the three-phase project. Phase One is the construction of an entrance road to the property, which will ultimately become the entrance road to the future expanded park. Phase Two is the construction of a storm water management system for the expanded park, which will also serve to handle the needs of the fire station. Phase Three of the project -- the construction of the station will come next.

The new sub-station will be approximately 60' by 80' in size, with two drive through apparatus bays, and office space. It is expected to take about six to eight months to construct the station, and nearly one year to take delivery on a fire truck. Ultimately, the station will house a fire truck and ambulance.

For more information about the history of this project see:
http://www.wgfc.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=180
http://www.wgfc.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=19
http://www.wgfc.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=172