Approval sought for new Carthage fire station - KOAM TV 7

Approval sought for new Carthage fire station

A vision for the 2014 Carthage city budget includes plans for a fire station on the city's south side.  Committee members will seek approval for that vision at tonight's city council meeting.

Currently the city has only one fire station housing all of its trucks and equipment.  But the department covers a 160 square mile district, meaning slower response times in the southern side of the city.

That's where officials would like to see a second station built.

"It can take three to five minutes to get to the south side of town from our current location depending on traffic flow," says Carthage Fire Chief Chris Thompson.  "If we move a station to south side as a second station we'll see increase in service to the residents."

The chief says a second station would improve insurance ratings for residents in that area helping lower the cost of insurance.

Committee members say a quarter cent city fire tax would be used to possibly acquire property and draw plans this year, and build in the future.