Station 2 Capt. E. Harris goes over the station's new floor plan with Plano Fire-Rescue spokesperson Capt. Peggy Harrell.[/caption]

Several fire stations throughout Plano will be undergoing extensive renovations in 2016. Work has already begun at stations 2 and 6, located at 2630 W. 15th St. and 6651 Alma Road, respectively. The construction consists of expansions and renovations and is expected to be complete in June.

Fire Station 2, which was built in 1973, received one renovation in 2000. Fire Station 6 was built in 1986 and had received no renovations since that time, said Peggy Harrell, spokesperson for Plano Fire-Rescue. The projects are part of the city’s 2009 bond package, which included $5.7 million for the renovation of Fire Stations 2 and 6, as well as one of the police buildings.

The renovations will also help improve response times at these stations, Harrell said.

“[We’re] shifting the layout of the building [by] bringing the bedrooms closer to the apparatus bay to make the trek from the bedroom or the living quarters to apparatus bay a little shorter,” she said. “Decreasing that travel time, even if it’s a few seconds, can make all the difference.”

Fire Station 1 is also scheduled to undergo renovations beginning in May. Located at 1901 K Ave., the 11,000 square-foot facility was built in 1994 and houses the city’s fire administration offices. The offices of the fire chief, deputy chiefs and support staff will move to suites at nearby Plano Municipal Center. The renovations are expected to be complete by May 2017, Harrell said. Funds for this project will also come from public safety funds from the 2009 bond election but the final cost for the project has not been tallied, as the plans are still being worked on, Harrell said.