Lawrence Fire and Medical is adding another fire station to the community in order to combat lagging response times.

The desired fire response time for Lawrence is less than six minutes, said Mark Bradford, deputy chief of the department. Currently, the department meets this time for 85 percent of its calls within the city. Bradford said the department’s goal was 90 percent.

To reach this goal the department began building a new station, Station 5, at 1911 Stewart Ave., in March. Bradford said this location would shorten response time for the University and surrounding areas.

“The amount hasn’t been identified yet, but obviously it will improve time,” Bradford said.

The University now relies on Station 1, 746 Kentucky St., or Station 4, 2819 Stonebarn Terrace., for response and assistance.

The Kansas University Endowment Association provided the four acres of land for Station 5 under the conditions that Station 5 house a hazardous materials unit and ladder truck when completed, Bradford said.

Kerri Henderson

The new fire station at 19th St. and Stewart Ave. is under construction. The station should be completed at the beginning of March 2006.

Within the deal between the endowment and the department, the department must pay $1 a year for the land indefinitely.

“It’s a legal way of giving us the land for nothing,” Bradford said.

As part of the KU area, Station 5 will blend in with the other buildings, Bradford said. Sabatini and Associates designed the single-story, 23,843 square foot station to do so. Bradford said the $5.4 million station was paid through municipal bonds split between Lawrence and Douglas County.

Bradford said completion of Station 5 is expected on March 1, 2006.