Liberty Township, Chesterton Fire departments build for now, future

The Duneland communities of Chesterton and Liberty Township are investing millions of dollars to expand and upgrade their fire stations in response to the region’s population growth.

Liberty Township began construction in October on its new $4.5 million fire station, which will also house the township’s government office.

The new 15,200 square foot structure is being built behind the current 4,000 square foot fire station on County Road W 900 N.

One of the significant features of the new station is a much larger garage, which could better accommodate up to eight fire engines.

Liberty Township’s current fire station, built in 1955, can only accommodate six vehicles with limited space available. Nicholas Wineland, president of the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Society, said the current building has undergone two expansions and resembles a maze.

Fire trucks were smaller in the 1950s, so garage doors were only 10 feet high.

“Each fire truck had to be specially ordered to get into the fire station,” said Liberty Township Trustee Matt Keizer.

Wineland said he hopes another benefit of the new construction will be attracting more volunteers to the department.

Sandwiched between the growing communities of Valparaiso and Chesterton, Liberty Township also wants to position itself for the future. That’s why structure allows for growth, Keizer said.

“We know that at some point our fire department, which is now 100 percent volunteer, will move to full-time to be able to serve the municipality,” Keizer said.

Liberty Township’s population has doubled since 1980, as the 2020 census counted 10,908 and that number continues to grow. The Liberty Township Fire Department also covers neighboring Jackson Township and regularly provides mutual aid to surrounding communities.

Keizer said Liberty Township has been “very conservative” with its finances and has saved $2 million for the project. He said the municipality is financing the remaining $2.5 million through a bond.

The new building will have enough space to house the municipal office. Currently, Liberty Township is leasing a 200-square-foot space at Whispering Sands Mobile Home Park off U.S. 6.

When the new station is completed, as planned next October, the current fire station will be demolished, Keizer said.

Chesterton decided, as part of the renovation of City Hall, to also develop the adjoining fire station at Broadway and 8th Street. The total construction cost of the project was $3.5 million, split almost equally between City Hall and the fire station.

City Hall was built in 1977, with the police and fire departments located in separate sections at either end of the building. After the new police station was built across Broadway, the old police station was razed on the west end to create more parking.

Chesterton Fire moved from a volunteer force to a full-time department in 1999.

The city’s population is estimated at 14,655 as of July 1, 2024, compared to 8,531 recorded in the 1980 U.S. Census.

The Chesterton Fire Station renovation includes a two-story, 1,700-square-foot addition. He created brighter, larger quarters for the city’s firefighters.

Chesterton has 15 full-time firefighters and three supervisors.

Capt. Heather Compton pointed out that the fire station is now large enough to one day accommodate twice as many firefighters, 10 per shift, if the need arises.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.