 The Bemidji Fire Department is looking to the future and new ways to serve greater Bemidji's estimated 35,000 residents. Josh Peterson shows us how a fourth fire station will enhance and provide additional jobs for the department. The Bemidji Fire Department is looking to the future and has plans to expand their services to a growing area by adding an additional fire station. The new Northern Township location would be strategically placed so it has easy access in all directions. We've got a lot of population in our northern service area that we serve along with a lot of building value so it really makes sense for us to have a fire station up in that area. The fire station would lease space in a current building located near Highway 71 and Winter Sumac Road northeast. Through a cost sharing measure between the city of Bemidji and the Rural Fire Association the city would cover nearly 58 percent of the cost while the Rural governments pay 42 percent but a new location isn't the only addition. The department is looking to add eight additional on-call firefighters to the staff. We're looking at adding eight additional paid on-call firefighters to our roster. I don't know if all eight of them will be assigned up there. We'll look at that internally. At tonight's Bemidji City Council meeting council members had the opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposal and echo the fire chief's words. You have had the conversation with the relief association and the relief association is okay with adding the additional eight. You say you have room for up to 12 more. The opportunity with residents living there to respond to that station or for the net benefit that helps the property protection for the people that are fire department serves. Bemidji's fire department serves 522 square miles and depends on the teamwork provided by the Rural Fire Association. Bemidji Mayor Rita Albright said this was the right thing to do. We need their help to help to protect the city of Bemidji as well and so this seems to be a way that we can show our support for that. Receiving a unanimous vote of support the fourth fire station will move forward. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. The fire department hopes to move into the northern township location by July 1st. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.