The Duneland communities of Chesterton and Liberty Township are investing millions of dollars to expand and update their fire stations in response to the area’s population growth.
Liberty Township in October began building its new $4.5 million fire station, which will also house the township’s government office.
The new 15,200-square-foot structure is being built behind the current 4,000-square-foot fire station on County Road W 900 N.
One of the important features of the new station is a much larger garage bay area, which would better accommodate up to eight fire vehicles.
Liberty Township’s current firehouse, built in 1955, can only accommodate six vehicles with little room to spare. Nicholas Wineland, who is president of the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department corporation, said the present building underwent two expansions and is maze-like.
Fire trucks were smaller back in the 1950s, so the garage doors are only 10 feet high.
“Every fire truck had to be special-ordered so it could fit inside the fire station,” said Liberty Township Trustee Matt Keiser.
Wineland said he hopes another benefit from the new construction will be to bring more volunteers into the department.
Sandwiched between the growing communities of Valparaiso and Chesterton, Liberty Township also wants to be positioned for the future. It’s why the structure allows for room to grow, Keiser said.
“We know at some point our fire department, that is now 100% volunteer, will transition to full-time to be able to service the township,” Keiser said.
Liberty Township’s population has doubled since 1980, as the 2020 census counted 10,908 and the number continues to grow. The Liberty Township Fire Department also covers neighboring Jackson Township and regularly provides mutual aid to surrounding communities.
Keiser said that Liberty Township has been “very conservative” with its finances and saved $2 million toward the project. He said the township is financing the remaining $2.5 million with a bond.
There will be enough space in the new building to house the township office. Currently, Liberty Township rents a 200-square-foot space from the Whispering Sands Mobile Home Park off U.S. 6.
When the new station is finished as expected next October, the current firehouse will be demolished, Keiser said.
Chesterton decided, as part of the renovation of the Town Hall, to also address the adjoining fire station at Broadway and 8th Street. The total project construction cost was $3.5 million, with practically a 50-50 split between the Town Hall and fire station.
The Town Hall was built in 1977, with the police and fire departments in separate sections at both ends of the building. After the new police station was built across Broadway, the old police station was razed at the west end to create more parking.
Chesterton Fire switched from a volunteer force to a full-time department in 1999.
The town’s population has grown to an estimated 14,655 as of July 1, 2024, up from 8,531 counted in the 1980 U.S. Census.
The renovation of Chesterton’s fire station includes a two-story, 1,700 square-foot addition. It has created brighter and more expansive quarters for the town’s firefighters.
Chesterton has a staff of 15 full-time firefighters and three supervisors.
Captain Heather Compton noted that the fire station is now large enough to one day accommodate twice as many firefighters, 10 per shift, in the future if the need should arise.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.