Firefighters get temporary digs
Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - They secured additional Town Council funding for a new building, packed up much of their headquarters and will get temporary sleeping quarters today.
Now, the Fire Department is just waiting to leave its old station for the last time.
"We're sort of in a holding pattern," said Chief Gary McCarraher.
The Fire Department recently received final council approval for a $9.3 million main station, to be built on West Central Street after the old one is torn down. The current building dates to 1922 and was not designed for modern equipment. The equipment bay floors are in danger of collapse and lightning striking the tower has shocked workers in the past.
To make way for the new station, the department has packed up its archives and living quarters and stripped the walls of decor, McCarraher said. The movers are expected Feb. 28. Staff and half the trucks will go to a temporary station at a converted town garage on Fisher Street, with a sleeping trailer to be dropped off today.
McCarraher and other administrators will move to the old Town Hall on Emmons Street. The rest of the vehicles and the dispatch center will be sent to the secondary station on King Street.
McCarraher expects the general move to take a day, but starting a week and a half before the switch, they will start working to gradually phase-in communications to King Street from the old building. There is a "zero tolerance" policy for missing calls, he said.
"There will be small things, but I think we've covered the major things," the chief said of any problems. "Our staff has really put a lot of time and effort into planning."
Now in the homestretch, McCarraher said the finishing touches had to be put on the temporary station and the firefighters' personal effects boxed up. Next door, movers worked yesterday on clearing a medical office that is giving way for the new station.
While the department is excited about the new headquarters, Capt. Steven Sims said the temporary station and sleeping area will be cramped. And despite the obsolescence of the current headquarters, he said part of him would be sad to go.
"In some ways we'll miss it," he said.
Michael Morton can be reached at mmorton@cnc.com or 508-634-7582.