The London Fire and EMS Department acquired the former Madison County Emergency Medical District station on Center St. on Feb. 1. The department plans to use the building as a satellite station, equipped with one fire vehicle and one squad vehicle.
(Posted Feb. 18, 2019)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The London Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department now owns the former Madison County Emergency Medical Department (EMD) station at 40 E. Center St.
The city acquired the property as part of a division of assets following its split from the EMD last year. The property transfer took place on Feb. 1.
The plan, said Chief Todd Eades, is to turn the facility into a satellite fire and EMS station that will be staffed around the clock. It will be home to one fire vehicle and one EMS squad vehicle. The department’s main station at East High Street will have three fire vehicles and two EMS vehicles.
“The satellite station makes it closer for response in the southern area of the city. It gives us a fire piece down there which is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long, long time,” Eades said.
The station is located south of the railroad tracks that bisect the city.
The department has inspected and assessed the building to determine what needs to be done to make it operational as a fire and EMS station.
“No major changes are needed,” Eades said.
The first priorities are to get phone, Internet and cable in place so that the notification system for dispatching calls can be set up. The to-do list also includes repairing a noncompliant gas line and vent hood, painting and drywalling where necessary, purchasing furniture, appliances and fixtures, and possibly replacing the glued-down flooring which is coming up in some places.
Eades also is working with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy on an application for a controlled substance license for the facility. The department already has one for its main station on East High Street.
Eades said he does not know when the satellite will be up and running.
“We’re working as fast as we can. We want to get in there as fast as we can,” he said.
