West Des Moines may move one of its fire stations out of a more than 50-year-old building that at one time housed the city's fire, police, emergency medical and animal control services.

But what worked in October 1972 when Fire Station No. 21 at 3421 Ashworth Road was dedicated no longer will going forward, according to the city. West Des Moines has hired a consultant to look at potential costs and locations to move Station 21 — potentially near Valley West Mall , including at a vacant lot where a former hotel caught fire.

Station 21's building was never designed to accommodate full-time emergency responders as it does now, West Des Moines Fire and EMS Chief Craig Leu said in an email. It currently houses a ladder truck, ambulance, crews to staff them, and a deputy chief, according to

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