A Hot Zone Design is a fire station layout where spaces are designated as Red (Hot), Yellow (Transition), and Green (Clean/Safe) Zones. This design reduces firefighter exposure to harmful substances by creating clear boundaries between contaminated areas—like the apparatus bay, where diesel exhaust and other hazardous fumes are present—and clean living or working areas. It also reduces the risk of tracking carcinogens and toxins from emergency scenes into the rest of the station. Upgrading to a Hot Zone Design supports firefighter health, safety, and long-term well-being, which, in turn, helps the Fire District attract and retain personnel.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firefighters are 9% more likely to receive a cancer diagnosis and 15% more likely to die from cancer than the general U.S. population. This is a result of exposure to dangerous chemicals at fires and by toxins transmitted onto equipment and clothes that are brought back to fire stations.

In recent years, there have been 12 reported cancer diagnoses and three known cancer-related deaths among Fire District employees and retirees.

Improvements made at the Fire District’s four fire stations would provide many benefits, including:

• Protecting emergency services
• Improving response times
• Strengthening recruitment and retention of firefighter/paramedics
• Improving firefighter health, wellness, and safety
• Extending the useful life of existing fire stations
• Reducing exposure to carcinogens inside the fire stations
• Enhancing ADA accessibility
• Improving energy efficiency, saving taxpayer dollars
• Protecting property values

Shall bonds of the Tri-State Fire Protection District, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois, in the amount of $38,100,000 be issued?

Tri-State Fire seeks to reconfigure and update all four fire stations, including:

• Replacing Station 122 (Darien)
• Renovating Stations 121 (Willowbrook)
• Renovate (including additions) or relocate Station 123 (Burr Ridge)
• Renovating Station 124 (Willow Springs)

Station 121 would be renovated and expanded to improve safety, functionality, and firefighter health. The updated design will include a Hot Zone layout to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, new living quarters, upgraded mechanical systems, and updated spaces that meet today’s standards. This renovation would allow the Fire District to extend the life of the existing station while addressing critical needs.

Key upgrades would include:

• Redesigned interior with Hot Zone layout for health, safety, and decontamination
• Create dedicated spaces for gear, decontamination, wellness, and fitness

• Upgraded HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing systems
• ADA-compliant restrooms, doors, and egress paths
• Upgraded windows and building insulation to increase energy efficiency
• Enhanced security and operational efficiency
• Updated safety systems, including gas detection in the apparatus bay
• Addition to better accommodate current operations and future additional ambulance service
• Private bunk rooms, single-user restrooms, and wellness space
• Dedicated storage for EMS equipment and turnout gear

Repaved driveways and parking areas

Station 122 would be completely rebuilt to meet modern safety, health, and operational standards. The new station would feature an efficient one-story layout, a pull-through apparatus bay to eliminate the need for backing into the station, and a Hot Zone layout to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants. It would also include private bunk rooms, single-user restrooms and showers, wellness and fitness areas, and modern building systems.

Planned improvements include:

• Efficient one-story station design to reduce response time.
• Pull-through bay to eliminate traffic delays caused by fire trucks backing in
• Improved layout for safer decontamination
• Updated safety systems, including gas detection in the apparatus bay
• Updated HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing systems
• Enhanced ADA accessibility
• Private bunk rooms and individual restrooms and showers
• Wellness and fitness spaces to support firefighter health
• Dedicated EMS support spaces, watch office, IT room, and laundry room
• New hose tower with safer access to the top of the tower

Station 122 sits on a compact site that cannot accommodate the additions needed to meet modern standards. Renovating the current building would be inefficient and still leave critical layout and infrastructure issues unresolved. The current apparatus bay requires fire vehicles to perform a three-point turn on Plainfield Road after returning from a call, delaying traffic and creating safety concerns.

Reasons for a full rebuild:

• Rebuilding is a more cost-effective, long-term solution
• Site constraints make renovation or expansion impractical
• Current layout cannot support modern health and safety requirements
• Pull-through bay is only feasible with a complete redesign
• Outdated building systems are near or past end-of-life
• Lacks proper decontamination zones and private accommodations
• Non-compliant with current ADA and NFPA standards

A rebuild avoids the ongoing costs of maintaining outdated systems, inefficient layouts, and infrastructure that’s already near or past its useful life. Rebuilding isn’t just more effective, it’s more fiscally responsible. Remodeling would be a short-term fix for long-term needs, with limited flexibility and a much lower return on investment.

Station 123 would be significantly renovated and expanded to better serve the needs of firefighters and the community. The plan includes keeping and upgrading the current apparatus bay, adding a new bay for the Fire District’s in-house maintenance shop, and creating updated living and work spaces that support firefighter health, safety, and wellness.

The new station layout will also incorporate a Hot Zone design to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, as well as private bunk rooms, updated mechanical systems, and accessible restrooms and showers.

Importantly, the station’s design considers its residential setting. A green buffer with trees and landscaping will be added along Madison Street, and the building’s appearance and placement are designed to respect neighborhood boundaries and prior community preferences.

Key improvements include:

• Replace outdated, inefficient plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
• Improve insulation and roofing
• Renovate the current apparatus bay
• Add a new bay for the in-house maintenance shop serving the entire District fleet
• Implement a Hot Zone layout for health, safety, and decontamination best practices
• Create dedicated spaces for gear, decontamination, wellness, and fitness
• Add private bunk rooms, restrooms, and showers
• Ensure ADA compliance throughout
• Efficient one-story station design to reduce response times
• Repave driveways and parking areas
• Respect the residential neighborhood with thoughtful building placement
• Add a green buffer zone with trees and landscaping along Madison Street

Based on resident feedback and a Standards of Cover study the District is conducting, the Fire District is investigating alternative sites as an option for Station 123 (Burr Ridge) and if any of those potential alternative sites would better serve the community. Should a potential site be found, the amount of the bond proposal would not change.

Though Station 124 has fewer visible issues than the others, important updates are still needed to improve health, safety, efficiency, and long-term functionality. The Fire District is currently funding apparatus bay renovations using non-referendum dollars. If the proposed bond measure is approved, additional improvements would allow the station to match the same standards as the others districtwide.

Planned improvements include:

• Interior renovations and reconfigurations to support a Hot Zone design, which separates contaminated and clean areas for safer operations
• New transition and decontamination spaces to meet health and safety standards
• Updates to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including replacing fluorescent lighting and aging rooftop units
• Upgrades to energy efficiency, with better insulation, windows, and door systems
• ADA upgrades, including accessible showers, restrooms, and clear egress paths
• New single-user restrooms, individual bunk rooms, and a wellness space to support firefighter health and privacy
• Separate IT room, laundry, and fitness spaces to support daily operations

Repairs and renovation to exterior structure and asphalt drive/parking area

Yes. Bathrooms, doorways, corridors, exterior entrances, and other spaces would be reconfigured at all District fire stations to comply with ADA requirements.

Many of the proposed improvements are designed to help enhance response times. By expanding storage areas, reorganizing apparatus bays, and creating more efficient station layouts, firefighters will be able to more quickly access equipment and get on the road faster. Since every second counts in an emergency, these upgrades could help save lives.

The proposed improvements would enhance firefighter safety by reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals encountered during fires and transferred to fire stations on clothing and equipment. These toxins are known to cause cancer. The bond measure would fund the addition of showers, laundry facilities, and dedicated storage areas at all fire stations, helping to keep harmful contaminants out of living and office spaces. Additionally, the proposal would allow for the relocation of exercise rooms, conference rooms, and living quarters away from the apparatus bay, where vehicles and equipment are stored, further improving firefighter health and wellness. Reducing exposure to diesel fumes and other carcinogens is critical.

Fire departments across the country are facing staffing shortages. Fewer people are entering the profession, and competition among fire departments for qualified candidates is intense. Today’s firefighters and paramedics are looking for more than just a paycheck—they want safe, healthy, updated working environments. Departments that offer modern facilities with up-to-date equipment, wellness support, and private living quarters have a clear advantage when it comes to recruiting and keeping top talent.

In today’s highly competitive job market, modern, safe, and healthy facilities are essential to attract and keep top talent. Nearby fire districts and departments like Plainfield, Lockport, Naperville, and Aurora already have updated stations that meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, especially those aimed at reducing cancer risks.

To stay competitive, Tri-State must offer similar protections. The proposed upgrades include decontamination zones, private bunk rooms and bathrooms, and wellness and fitness spaces. These improvements not only enhance health and safety but also show respect for the needs of today’s firefighters—making Tri-State a more attractive and supportive place to serve.

Many of the District’s stations are outdated and no longer meet today’s safety, health, and operational standards. Delaying improvements will only make the problems worse—and more expensive to fix as construction costs continue to escalate. Acting now helps strengthen emergency response; protect the health and safety of first responders; extend the useful life of existing facilities; reduce costly and disruptive emergency repairs; improve energy efficiency, saving tax dollars; and ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.