The city of Auburn has already reduced its fire department from three stations to two. Now the department could go from two to one.

The city is looking to hire a Syracuse architecture firm to study the possibility of building a new fire station. If the project is feasible, the Auburn Fire Department could use the new station as its sole base of operations.

The city council will vote today on whether to authorize the study, which would be carried out by QPK Design.

The station would follow the model of a 2003 study to improve the efficiency of the fire department, according to Fire Chief Mike Hammon. That study, conducted by MMA Consulting Group, called for either two stations on opposite sites of the city or one centrally located station.

City officials cited the 2003 study when the Frederick Street station was closed in April.

“We've agreed to have the consultant come in and figure out what our needs are and put together what would be the best option for a single fire station,” Hammon said.

The AFD currently operates from its main station on Market Street and a second location on Clark Street. The proposal does not include a location for the possible station.

For the study, QPK representatives would examine the existing fire facilities and interview staff to determine the department's needs, such as storage and living space, according to the proposal.

The firm would also define a construction site and cover possible zoning setbacks, parking needs and other physical issues.

If approved, the study will provide two conceptual building layouts and a preliminary budget for the project, according to the proposal.

Hammon said the department's main station on Market Street is a very large facility. But it was not built to handle the weight of modern fire engines and equipment, he said.

“We're kind of outgrowing this facility,” Hammon said. “On a concrete pad type floor, we wouldn't have to worry about weight of the apparatus.”

If passed, this will be the first of two upcoming studies related to the city's fire department, according to Comptroller Lisa Green. The second would be an update of the MMA study on the department's efficiency, Green said Wednesday.

City councilors will be asked today to approve the transfer funds for both of these studies, which are not to exceed $22,000, according to the proposed resolution. However, a vote to approve the MMA study update is not on today's agenda.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go

What: Auburn City Council meeting

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: 24 South St., Auburn

Another department on the move?

The Auburn Fire Department is not the only city service that could be moving to a new home.

If the city council passes the resolution that includes the fire station feasibility study, Syracuse-based QPK Design will also conduct a similar study for a new public works facility.

The facility would be located on Washington Street, according to the proposal. The city Department of Public Works is currently based in a garage at 358 Genesee St.

The proposed study would cost approximately $8,000.