New Palatine Fire Station Opens on Quentin Road

The new Palatine fire station at 1215 N. Quentin Rd. opened this week and officials say it will help reduce response times to the village's northwest side.

The budget for the station was $2.9 million. It replaces the fire department's station at 455 W. Dundee Rd. Scott Anderson, deputy fire chief, said the new station could reduce response times to areas such as the Morgans Gate subdivision by 60 to 90 seconds.

"It's closer to the northwest quadrant," Anderson said. "And Quentin Road is a nice access point."

The Dundee Road station was sometimes hampered by heavy traffic. Quentin Road is four lanes where the station is located while the Dundee Road was only two lanes where the station was located.

Anderson said three personnel are assigned to the new station which houses an ambulance and a fire engine with a 75 foot ladder. The crew can answer ambulance calls and also assist on fire calls.

"It's a very nice, very functional station," Anderson said. "It fits our needs well, but it is by no means extravagant."

Anderson said the new station is large enough to accommodate a five member crew, although there are no plans to increase staffing. The new station is one of five in Palatine.

The old Dundee Road station will be occupied by the Palatine Masonic Temple. The Masons previous building at 1 N. Plum Grove Rd. was taken by the city as part of the Palatine Road construction project.

The Masons Plum Grove building had a higher appraised value than the Dundee Road fire station property. Therefore, the Masons received $592,000  from the village and a 99-year lease for the Dundee Road property at a nominal fee.

The Masons have previously said that some of the $592,000 likely will be used to upgrade and renovate the old fire station.