McHENRY – The McHenry Township Fire Protection District is considering a $500,000 land purchase to build a fifth fire station along Route 31 in McHenry, across from the Shah Center.

“We’re in the due diligence period right now,” said Jim Militello, district board attorney.

At Thursday night’s district board of trustees meeting, board officials announced plans to explore buying the vacant 7-acre parcel as a potential site for the district’s fifth station. The district has about $7.9 million set aside in reserves for future building projects.