Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) -The new fire station No. 8 had a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

The station, being touted by city officials as “state-of-the-art”, is located on Rickard Road just off Veterans Parkway on the city’s West Side.

It will replace the current Station No. 8 located at Chatham Road. and Monroe Street. The congestion caused by the Starbucks next door prompted the move although that coffee shop has closed its doors and moved into nearby Fairhills Mall.

Alderwoman Erin Conley, whose Ward 8 the new station is in, said the new building features a high-tech decontamination chamber, private bedrooms for the firefighters, a modern kitchen with many amenities and, she said, IT’S BIG!

Springfield Fire Chief, Ed Canny, says the move will cut down on response time to the city’s far west businesses and homes while keeping the areas covered by the current Ward 8 station due to the overlap by neighboring fire protection districts.

Mayor Buscher was among the many city and state leaders on hand for the event including State Senators Turner and McClure, State Representative Coffey and Alderpersons Conley and Carlson.