Who is Impacted

Every resident, worker, and visitor in the Town of Normal depends on rapid fire and EMS response because when an emergency happens, every second counts. The Town’s current plan to close the College Avenue Fire Station while opening a new facility will leave a significant portion of the community with reduced coverage. This includes neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses that would face longer response times for fires, medical calls, and rescues. The result is simple: slower help when lives and property hang in the balance.

What is at Stake

If the College Avenue Station closes, Normal will lose vital fire and EMS protection for the central areas of town. Engines and ambulances will be forced to travel farther, costing precious minutes that can determine whether a fire is contained or a family loses their home, whether a patient survives cardiac arrest or doesn’t.

Keeping both the existing College Avenue Station and the new facility open would maintain full coverage while still supporting the town’s long-term growth. Closing one to open another weakens the entire system and puts the burden on our firefighters residents. Once a station closes, that capacity is lost - and it’s costly, if not impossible, to rebuild later.

Why Now is the Time to Act

The data being used to justify this closure is outdated and no longer reflects current call volumes, population growth, or travel times. A new public study - linked with this petition - provides accurate, up-to-date information showing that closing the College Avenue Station would create dangerous coverage gaps.

Now is the moment for residents to act. Before this decision becomes final, we need the Town Council to hear directly from the people they serve. By signing this petition and contacting your council members, you are helping protect the safety, health, and security of every household in Normal.

We, the undersigned, urge the Town of Normal to keep the College Avenue Fire Station open while proceeding with the expansion of fire protection across our growing community. Both facilities are essential to maintaining the quick, life-saving coverage Normal residents deserve.

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