Mayor Daley Cuts Ribbon At New Firehouse

Mayor Richard M. Daley today unveiled the new Engine Company 88 Firehouse, a facility that will bring the latest in firefighting technology and communications to Chicago residents.

“This wonderful, modern facility will use the latest technology to address the safety and emergency needs of the people it serves,” Daley said. “Today’s firehouses are built with both firefighters and the community in mind. This is a facility the community can be proud of. It is an example of the City’s ongoing effort to promote fire safety and to make every Chicago neighborhood safer.”

Joining Mayor Daley at the Engine Company 88 ribbon cutting were Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Cortez Trotter, Public Building Commission Executive Director Montel Gayles, Alderman Frank Olivo (13th) and other public and elected officials.

The new $5.2 million firehouse, located at 3637 W. 59th St., was built by the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC), chaired by Mayor Daley. This new facility includes a modern design to accommodate better living, remote training and office workspace.

“The new Engine Company 88 is the latest in our continuing effort to build modern city facilities to better serve Chicago’s residents,” Gayles said. “This new firehouse includes a modern command center to facilitate emergency communications and an interior design that emphasizes safety and comfort for firefighters and paramedics. It is easy to maintain, and is built to last for the next 100 years.”

The new one-story, 14,000-square-foot facility will accommodate three shifts totaling about 60 firefighters and officers, replacing the old Engine Company 88 firehouse at 3500 W. 60th St., which was built in 1927.

Engine Company 88 firehouse includes:

• Firefighting staff training area with increased capabilities.
  
• Locker room and bathroom facilities to accommodate the needs of both men and women.
  
• A fully equipped workout facility to help maintain health and fitness of the firefighting staff.
  
• Convenient, oversized garage doors to accommodate today’s larger emergency vehicles. A circular driveway will make it faster and safer for vehicles to leave and re-enter the building.
  

As part of the grand opening of the new Engine Company 88, the Fire Department announced a new program called “Firehouse Open House,” which is designed to build stronger partnerships with the community.

“New firehouses not only provide the tools necessary for the Chicago Fire Department to accommodate our training, technology and physical fitness needs and initiatives, but they are also becoming community anchors helping us build even stronger partnerships in our community,” said Trotter. “As we launch our new ‘Firehouse Open House’ program, we reaffirm our commitment to open our doors and build strong bridges to every neighborhood as we become one with the people we serve.”

Through “Firehouse Open House”, the Chicago Fire Department will hold monthly firehouse open houses throughout Chicago so residents can get to know get their community firefighters and paramedics. Each open house event will include entertainment and educational activities for children, while providing community members with information about safety and Chicago Fire Department services.

The Engine Company 88 firehouse is the third to be opened under the Mayor’s Neighborhoods Alive 21 program, which includes firehouses, police stations and libraries. Nearly 20 libraries, fire and police houses will be replaced under this ambitious program.