New fire station for LJFD

Published on March 06, 2025

Earlier this year, the Lake Johanna Fire Department (LJFD) opened bids for its fire station construction project. The project, projected to cost a total of $20 million, received $3.37 million in funding from the state. LJFD directly serves the cities of Arden Hills, North Oaks, and Shoreview.

This project will provide a new headquarters fire station and include offices for administrative staff, living quarters and bedrooms for the part-time shift personnel, fitness and wellness space, and spaces for classroom and hands-on fire training that will be utilized by multiple regional partner agencies. 

In 2018 a long-range planning study assessed the department’s current and future needs and concluded that the existing stations did not provide enough space for training, administrative, and operating spaces. It also found that the station’s current location on Victoria Street directly north of a rail line hindered response times.

The new facility will provide enhanced health and safety spaces for firefighters, allowing for proper decontamination of gear and equipment, reduction in exposures to carcinogens and toxic materials, and allow for proper ventilation to reduce exposure to harmful fumes.

LJFD serves over 42,000 residents and covers 31 square miles. Ten full-time and 77 paid-on-call firefighters provide emergency services to the area. 

Learn more about the project.