The city of Fultondale could have an additional fire station in as few as six months.

On Monday, officials broke ground for the Fultondale Fire Department No. 2 at 2600 Walker Chapel Road.

Fultondale Fire Chief Larry Holcomb said the additional station will lower the city’s ISO rating, which will lower homeowners’ insurance costs.

The new station is an “extreme necessity,” Holcomb said, adding that the station will give residents on the west side of Fultondale the “same quality of service here as they have (on the east side).”

Holcomb said many of the firefighters live on the west side of the interstate, so the new fire station will improve response times. Fultondale has an all-volunteer fire department.

When the fire hall is complete, it will house an engine and a rescue truck and, eventually, a two-and-a-half ton truck.

There will be an office at the new fire station, but Holcomb said the primary administrative offices will remain at the existing fire hall on Walker Chapel Road near city hall.

That station was heavily damaged by a tornado on April 27. The city council recently accepted a bid to repair Station No. 1.

Station No. 3 is located on the campus of Fultondale High School.