Jill Schramm/MDN A construction crew works Wednesday on the new Fire Station 5, which is taking shape on the south side of Fourth Avenue Northwest, east of 27th Street.

Fire Station 5 is beginning to take shape as walls go up at the new site at Fourth Avenue and 27th Street Northwest.

Fire Station 5 is expected to come on line in June 2023.

Fire Chief Kelli Kronschnabel said at a budget forum last week that the fire truck ordered for that station should be available in April or May.

“We’re looking at adding personnel about that same time so that we can put them through an eight- to 12-week academy, depending on what their background is. So everything is moving along. We’ve been doing so much planning for this station that we’ve actually started stockpiling a few things as we go along,” she said.

The department has been writing grants when opportunities come up, and Kronschnabel said many groups have provided grant dollars for equipment. The department also has been taking advantage of sales on needed items to help take pressure off tax dollars.

Operational costs for Station 5 in the preliminary 2023 budget include three new firefighters to complete the staffing for the station.