Fire Chief: Shelby is Close to Purchasing Land for 5th Fire Station

The dream to open a fifth fire station in Shelby Township may become a reality soon.

“We are actively looking to build a Station 5 and pursing that as quickly as we can,” said Fire Chief Gene Shepherd.

Township officials have been in closed-door talks about where to purchase property for the new addition to the fire department, but Shepherd said there is a great need to better service the south east side of the township.

Currently, Fire Station 4, located at 23 Mile and Schoenherr roads services one-third of the fire and EMS calls in the township.

“That’s by far the busiest,” said Shepherd. “The other three stations cover two thirds of the township.”

In 2011, Station 4 responded to 2,041 calls compared to 1,007 calls at Station 2; 910 calls at Station 3 and 1,372 calls at Station 1.

Fire Station 4 covers from both sides of the M-53 expressway at 23 Mile Road, north to 26 Mile Road, and east to Hayes and down to Hall Road, said Shepherd.

That portion of the township contains the most industrial buildings in addition to high call centers such as the Shelby Macomb Medical Mall and the Shelby Nursing Center. In addition, there is construction under way to build long- and short-term care facilities on the southeast side of 21 and Schoenherr roads.

The township has been working with ISO Slayer, a company that has been preparing the township’s briefs to present to ISO.

This ISO study is independent,” said Shepherd. “They set the criteria for this stuff. It’s built on facts, data and response times.”

In addition, a fifth fire station will lower resident’s insurance premiums that will live near the new station by improving the safety ratings of the township.

Shepherd said the township is moving swiftly on selecting and purchasing the location, and he hopes that work on the station will begin by 2013.