LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Firefighters at Louisville Fire Engine Co. 23 near Iroquois Park will soon have a new state-of-the-art facility.
Mayor Craig Greenberg made the announcement Tuesday morning outside Louisville Fire Engine Co. 23 at 706 W. Kenwood Drive. The city has allocated a combined $6 million, $3 million proposed from this year's capital budget and $3 million proposed from next year's budget, for the project.
"That's enough to get it started," said Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neil. "There's a lot going into that. You have architectural design, you have land procurement... We are working on a computer software program that will help us make sure that we have the exact right spot. If we move this station even just over there, that will affect the response for the Portland firehouse because it's an entire matrix."
Although there are older facilities, some dating back a century, Engine 23 was selected because the current station -- built in 1955 -- has no space to accommodate female firefighters.
"We need facilities that contribute to the daily health and wellness of our firefighters," said O'Neil. "If you think about your firefighters, we work a schedule that's 24 hours on, 48 hours off. So one-third of our lives is spent here serving the community -- and we want those to be modern facilities that contribute to their health and well being."
Louisville Fire has made updates to some of its other stations, including at Engine 17 located at 18th and Garland.
More Local News:
Broadband dispute escalates as Kentucky officials slam company over dark fiber access
Lexington family stuck with 70,000 Dum-Dums lollipop child ordered on Amazon
duPont Manual senior basketball player dies after cancer battle
Southern Indiana police officer fired after drugs found in firehouse storage bin
