Lenexa’s new potential fire headquarters could cut response time in half

LENEXA, Kan. (KCTV) – The Lenexa Fire Department is proposing to build a new fire headquarters in its old city hall building to address the gap in response time. According to the ministry, call volumes are highest in the northeast of the city.

“It’s one of the most densely populated areas of Lenexa, there are a lot of people to protect, so we knew the travel time alone would take longer than we expected or desired,” said Lenexa Fire Department Chief Travis Vaughn.

If the fire department moves to 87th and Monrovia, the fire department estimates response time would be cut in half. The building currently houses a fire prevention and fire protection crew who have been working there since 2020.

Fire Department No. 1 in 9620 Pflumm is the current headquarters and was built in 1986. A larger building will help accommodate an expanded administrative staff.

The construction of Fire Station No. 6 would increase the average travel time in the area from a maximum of seven minutes to five minutes. These two minutes can mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency such as cardiac arrest.

“Your chances of survival decrease by 10 percent for every minute that passes,” Chief Vaughn said.

The sound of emergency vehicles is a familiar sound to residents and businesses in northeast Lenexa. Chuck Christ owns an automobile company just a few blocks from Station #1.

“There are sirens from time to time, quite often actually, just because they’re down the street from us,” he said.

The new headquarters would reduce response time in his district from five minutes to three.

“The highway is close, there’s a lot of housing here, so staying there or moving might help in both cases,” Christ said.

The closest fire stations to the Northeast region are located within three miles at 96th Terrace and Pflumm Road and 87th and Lackman Road.

Chief Vaughn says every second saved could make a difference.

“We have already seen some positive results from operating out of this location,” Vaughn said. “We have had successful cardiac arrest rescues and other incidents where our ability to arrive on scene in a timely manner resulted in a positive outcome to the incident.”

The building, located at 12350 W. 87th St. Parkway, also houses a health center. Part of the project would include moving a health center to the new town hall downtown. Funding is provided through the Capital Improvement Program.

The department is now working with architects to see if the building is suitable for renovation. In the next 30 to 45 days they will send a request for proposal to the construction management.

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