BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FAIRFIELD -- When Fire Station No. 2 was built on Dixie Highway more than 40 years ago, the road was only two lanes and cars passed at a slower pace. These days, the little station sits on one of Fairfield's busiest roads -- with rush-hour traffic often crawling toward Springdale on four crowded lanes.
But firefighters won't have to worry about so many traffic problems there in the future. This week, city officials will begin interviewing architects to design a new station on the old site.
"It is much needed," Fire Chief Don Bennett said. "We're excited. We've talked about this project for a number of years." The new station will relieve cramped conditions and avoid possible traffic accidents, he said.
"To get into the building now, we have to stop northbound traffic," Chief Bennett said. "A lack of cooperation (from motorists) has created quite a problem for us."
The firehouse at Ohio 4 at Boymel Drive was built in 1957, when the newly formed city had fewer than 10,000 people. About 43,000 now live in Fairfield.
The city operates three firehouses -- Station No. 1 on Nilles Road, No. 2 on Dixie Highway and No. 3 on Winton Road. Station No. 2 is busy regularly, the chief said.
The new 8,500-square-foot building will cost about $1 million and be built behind the present station, which fire officials say is too close to the highway for safe entry.
"During a run, the situation can be dangerous," Chief Bennett said.
Problems arise when firefighters try to drive out of or back their big trucks into the narrow driveway, causing traffic to back up. Sometimes impatient motorists try to drive around the fire trucks and emergency vehicles, he said.
The city won't tear down the old building until after the new one is built, the chief said.
"By building on the same land, we can use property that we already own and do our own little bit of recycling," Chief Bennett said.
