Palatine moved into the new Station 81 on May 2, 2011. Larry Shapiro photo
In early May 2011, the Palatine Fire Department officially closed its old Station 81 located at 455 W. Dundee Road and relocated to a brand-new facility at 1215 N. Quentin Road. This move marked a significant step forward for the department, as the new station was designed to better serve the growing community in the northwestern part of Palatine.
According to the official Palatine Fire Department website:
> "Construction is nearly complete on this new fire station on the corner of Quentin Road and Echo Lane. It replaces Station 81’s old facility on Dundee Rd. with one better located to serve our residents in the northwestern section of Palatine, as well as one that can more efficiently fill the needs of 21st century fire and rescue operations. We moved into this station and began to run calls from this location on May 2, 2011."
The new Station 81 is staffed by three personnel: a Lieutenant and two firefighter/paramedics. Depending on the type of emergency, they respond with either the quint or the ambulance. Additional support equipment typically arrives from neighboring stations. In addition to the quint and ambulance, the station also houses the Reserve Squad and a Reserve Command vehicle.
Palatine Station 81 is farther west than the previous station which was inherited from the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. Larry Shapiro photo
Previously, Palatine ran out of this station on Dundee Road. Larry Shapiro photo
Before the new station was completed, the old building had served the community for many years. It was originally part of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District and was located further east. The relocation allowed for improved response times and better coverage for the expanding area.
For those interested in seeing the progress during the construction phase, you can check out earlier posts here and here.