Kan. Home Becomes `Squad House` for Fire Department

When the crew assigned to Overland Park, KS, Squad 47 returns to their station, it’s more like they are going home. They back the red SUV into the garage, close the overhead door and walk into a one-story ranch.

Squad House 47 is how the Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD) increased its response capabilities on the city’s east side. The two person crew—a paramedic and firefighter/EMT—respond in an SUV equipped with ALS equipment.

Growing need for service

The number of medical calls in that area of the city has been growing year after year, but the closest OPFD fire station is about five miles away. The city contracted with a neighboring fire department to cover calls in that section of the city, but they could only provide BLS services. The area is home to an aging population, Media Manager Jason Rhodes said, noting the need for ALS resources.  

The department sought to house a unit in that area, but wanted the facility to be cost efficient at the same time.

“We were looking to put a resource over there for quite some time,” Deputy Chief of Operations Mark Casey said.

OPFD had been involved in a study that looked at creating a joint-use facility with two fire departments, but it wasn’t conducive to the city’s needs. Another plan looked at building a small fire station on city land adjacent to a recreational pool, but that did not work out.

They spent six months exploring the concept of using an existing commercial or residential property to house a crew. After receiving approval from the city for the concept, they worked with a realtor to find a property that would meet their needs.

Working with neighbors

After identify that a ranch-style home would meet their needs as far as structure and response, the department met with the neighborhood homeowners association. Concerns from residents included an increase in noise, fast-moving vehicles and the use of lights and sirens in the residential neighborhood.

Policy for the station dictates that the squad crew follows the posted speed limit and does not use the vehicle’s emergency warning equipment during the three-block response to the main thoroughfare.

“We told them that there would not be any large fire apparatus driving up and down their streets,” Casey recalled from the meetings. “We will be respectful of concerns and noise. We really wanted to be good neighbors.”

Casey maintains that they intend to keep a low profile. “We didn’t paint the house red, we left it white,” he said. “We keep the squad inside the garage at all times. There are no speakers on the outside of the house.”

Once they had approval from the neighborhood, they applied for a special-use permit from the city to open the station.

“We told them that we need to revisit the item down the road,” Casey said. “It gives the public a voice in the process of the special-use permit to withdraw.”

From home to squad house

After three months, the city purchased the three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-story home at 10418 Reeds Drive for $200,000. 

“We were very lucky that the resident who was selling the home did a number of upgrades right before we bought it,” Casey said, noting that it kept costs down.

The city had to invest $50,000 to make the house response-ready. First they installed speakers and wiring to get the Locution station alerting system up and running. They also had to upgrade lighting, add storage closets and a workout facility.

The original garage had to small bays, so they removed the center post and made it a wider single-vehicle garage. Finally, they had to widen the driveway, which now includes off-street parking for the on-duty employee's vehicles.

The city’s IT department worked with the local internet provider to set up the station’s alerting system and computer equipment at the "alarm desk" in the living room. A key-coded locking system was also installed around the home.

Squad House 47 opens

After almost two years of planning and research, Squad House 47 opened in December 2014. A month later, OPFD held an open house to invite neighbors and city officials to see the new facility. During the open house, one of the neighbors asked when the station will be opened for service.

“It was a good indication that we were able to fit into the neighborhood without any disruptions,” Rhodes said of the crews that had already been responding an average of five times daily. Last year, Squad 47 was dispatched to 2,109 emergencies.

Overland Park’s squad concept

The department operates two squads. Squad 40 is staffed during the daytime to meet the needs for high medical call volumes and Squad 47 is staffed around the clock.

In addition to the full complement of BLS and ALS equipment on Squad 47, they also carry firefighting PPE and forcible-entry tools.

The agreement with the neighboring fire department is still in place, allowing them to respond on structure fires and high-risk medical calls. The squad also responds to that city for critical medical responses.

Since the city uses automatic vehicle locating, Squad 47 can be dispatched to nearby fire calls to perform a size—up and provide medical service, but Casey said, they will not be engaged in firefighting.

OPFD adopted the Alternative Response Vehicle concept used by fire departments in Lincoln, NE, and Arlington, VA, where the smaller vehicles are deployed when a full-sized apparatus is not needed. The department has four of those vehicle in service and they are cross-staffed by the traditional fire companies. 

The future of Squad House 47

When asked about the possibility of expanding on this concept, Casey said, “We’re not really looking outside of what we have right now.

As response needs grow in that area, OPFD will consider adding a traditional fire station or using a commercial property for fire response needs.

“The crews that spend time at the Squad House tend to really enjoy it,” Rhodes said, recalling conversations he’s had with firefighters and paramedics. “They continue to say ‘you almost feel you’re going home between calls.’ The (squad) home seems to be a little more comfortable than the industrial fire station feel they are used to.”

And Rhodes added that they now have full support of the neighborhood. “Our neighbors are our backers now that we’ve responded quickly to them,” Rhodes said, noting that some of the emergencies that they have been called to are right in the Squad House's neighborhood.