FREDERICKTOWN — Although in the preliminary stages, discussions have begun about adding a satellite fire station in the eastern part of the Fredericktown Community Fire District.

A meeting was held several weeks ago in Pike Township to gauge residents’ interest in staffing the station, which would be on Earnest Road.

“The main thing the meeting was for was to see if there is interest in volunteers signing up,” said Gary Burson, Pike Township’s representative to the fire board. “We had eight people sign up, but it’s all going to depend on whether they follow through on their training.

“We were looking to get four,” he added.

Burson said a bay large enough for two trucks would be built onto the township garage.

“Some of the local people here were the ones who asked about getting [the idea] started,” he said. “The trustees seem to be behind the idea. We’re taking it one step at a time. We’re just in the very beginning stages of thinking about it.”

Burson said some residents have asked whether having a fire station in closer proximity than Fredericktown would reduce their insurance rates, but said it probably would not.

“To reduce insurance rates, it has to be a [full-time] manned station,” he said.

Having a volunteer station, however, would reduce response times, he said.