Chatham fire station proposed relocation draws questions ahead of council meeting

Chatham residents don’t want a new fire hall going into their quiet residential neighbourhood. CTV’s Chris Campbell reports.

A proposal to relocate Chatham’s Fire Station No. 1 to part of the former St. Ursula property on Lacroix Street is drawing questions ahead of Monday’s Chatham-Kent council meeting.

A report going before council recommends administration move ahead with planning for a new Station 1 and identifies a portion of the municipally owned former St. Ursula property as the preferred location. Administration says several potential sites were assessed based on fire response times, land availability, servicing, environmental constraints, remediation requirements and land acquisition costs.

The report says part of the 4.44-acre property would be used for the fire station, while the remainder could be redeveloped for affordable and market housing.

A separate report seeking approval to retain a consultant for site planning and preliminary design is expected to come before council in September, with public consultation included as part of that process.

The proposed relocation comes as Chatham-Kent prepares to move the Civic Centre, Chatham library and museum into the new Community Hub at the former Sears building in downtown Chatham, a project scheduled for completion in early 2028. However, administration notes relocating Station 1 was already recommended in the municipality’s 2024 Fire Master Plan.

Ward 6 Coun. Amy Finn said she was surprised to learn of the proposed location when council received its agenda.

“My concern is it’s now coming up on Monday. This is the first I’ve heard of it. And the first residents of the city have heard of it,” Finn said. “It’s creating a lot of concern right now as to the location and why this is the first time they’re hearing of it.”

Finn told CTV News she wants more information about how the site was selected.

“I want answered on the fire master plan why it states Richmond Street between William and Bloomfield is the recommended area,” she said. “We have Park Ave. … or Bloomfield area. It does not need to be in a residential area.”

She also raised concerns about the possibility of housing being developed on the remaining portion of the property.

Nearby resident Tanya Burgoon said she’s worried about how a fire station could affect the surrounding neighbourhood.

“The noise is an issue. Also, the extra traffic is not a thrilling thing,” Burgoon said. “We already have a lot of people that race up and down the road, so it would just be even more busy.”

Retired Chatham-Kent firefighter Mike Myers supports the proposed relocation, saying the current station presents operational challenges.

“It’s in a bad area,” Myers said. “We’ve always had an issue with the tracks down there at Richmond, so at least here they’re on the right side of the tracks.”

Myers said he believes the proposed site would improve emergency response for that part of Chatham.

“I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “I do believe that we’re in the right spot. And I think if it’s built correctly, you’ll have a good area and the public here will be safe and they’ll have good coverage.”

The report also recommends moving ahead with plans to repurpose the former Children’s Treatment Centre into a Community Safety Centre. The municipality says the building could eventually house fire administration, police services, paramedicine, emergency management, Victim Services and the Chatham-Kent collision reporting centre.

Monday’s report does not ask council to approve construction of a new fire station. Instead, administration is seeking direction to continue planning work and bring forward more detailed reports on the proposed fire station and Community Safety Centre in the coming months.