Village Plans To Donate 1 Acre Of Land For 5th Oswego Fire Station

OSWEGO, IL — The Village of Oswego is looking to donate land to the Oswego Fire Protection District for its fifth station, officials announced Friday.

The parcel of land, approximately one acre, is located at the southwest corner of Wolf's Crossing Road and Devoe Drive. Trustees will vote on the donation at its Feb. 12 meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to consider the planned unit development for the new station at its March 7 meeting.

"This land symbolizes more than just acreage, it represents the unified approach from both the Village and the Fire District to continue to provide quality fire and EMS services to the residents, those that visit, and those that commute through our District," Fire Chief John Cornish said in a statement.

The fire department informed the village it needs a station on Oswego's east side due to current and projected growth in service demand, according to a news release. A fifth station will provide additional fire protection and emergency medical and rescue services while also improving response times, officials said.

The Oswego Fire Protection District, a separate taxing body, serves a population of about 75,000 people and has seen a 17 percent increase in calls for service in the last five years, according to village officials.

Should the land donation be approved by the Village Board, the new fire station will be constructed using funds from the fire district's bond referendum that passed in April 2023.

"Donating this land to the Fire District is mutually beneficial for our community," Village President Ryan Kauffman said in a statement. "It will ensure the safety of our residents and allow the Fire District to provide vital
emergency services to this growing area."