West Bend OKs New $24.7M Fire Station

WEST BEND — Construction is expected to begin this September on West Bend’s new Fire Station #1 after the city’s Common Council unanimously approved plans for the 44,000-square-foot facility this week.

The new headquarters for fire and emergency medical services will be built on a 12-acre site at the intersection of Highways 33 and 45, known locally as the Johnson Bus Property. The $24.7 million project will replace the department’s aging downtown headquarters and is funded through municipal bonding.

With an anticipated lifespan of 70 years and a 21-year bond repayment plan, the project is designed as a long-term investment in community safety. For local homeowners, the impact translates to about $78 per year — or roughly $1,634 over the life of the bond — for a home valued at West Bend’s average of $300,041.

District 7 Alderman Bill Schmidt acknowledged the cost but underscored the importance of acting now. “I always have a visceral initial reaction to raising taxes, but this is a need in the community,” Schmidt said. “This is something that’s not going to go down in cost. It’s going to go up, and I think we can bite the bullet now, or bite it harder later.”

Key upgrades include drive-thru bays for faster vehicle movement, modern bunkhouses and locker rooms, and improved decontamination areas to help reduce cancer risks for fire and EMS crews. The large site also provides space for tactical training and future expansion.

WBFD Chief Les Norin emphasized the broader impact: “This project is not just about brick and mortar,” Norin said. “It’s about investing in the safety, readiness, and well-being of the men and women who serve our community, and ensuring they have the tools, space, and infrastructure they need to protect West Bend today and for generations to come.”

Mayor Joel Ongert added that the project is as much for residents as for first responders: “The need is there. When this fire station was constructed, we had a chief, maybe a deputy chief and a few volunteers. Now we have close to 60 full-time fire/EMS personnel,” Ongert said. “I’m not going to say they just deserve this; I think the entire community deserves this.”

District 1 Alderman John Butschlick said the updated station could save lives in more ways than one. “Cancer is their number 1 killer, and if this new department has the ability to prevent these gentlemen from coming down with cancer, it’s worth every penny,” Butschlick said. “It’s not a Taj Mahal; it’s a place for these gentlemen and ladies to, when they are finished with their work, sit back, relax and get ready for the next call.”

Construction is expected to break ground this fall, with full completion anticipated in 2026. The next West Bend Common Council meeting is set for July 21 at City Hall

Why It Matters

‍The current Station #1, built decades ago, no longer meets modern safety or space requirements for a growing professional department. The new facility addresses both daily operations and critical health hazards firefighters face on the job — including carcinogen exposure, which remains a top occupational threat for first responders nationwide.

Community Impact

‍City leaders hope the new station will improve response times, enhance training opportunities, and attract new recruits in an increasingly competitive labor market for public safety workers.

Broader Trends

‍Across the country, aging fire stations are being replaced with modern, larger facilities to accommodate bigger equipment, advanced decontamination protocols, and the rising demand for emergency medical services — which now make up most calls for many fire departments.

Originally reported by Andrew Abler in GM Today.