Why it’s Important to Take Action Now with the Fire Station Project
Now is the best time to move forward with building new fire stations for our community for several reasons. “Protecting our firefighters is critical, especially when there is a pandemic, so the community has safe and healthy first responders who are ready to serve and protect. This is a much needed investment in our community’s safety. Additionally, the timing will allow the township to save money,” said Amy Lucci, Trustee.
The projected life of the existing facilities was estimated to be 50 years when they were built in the 1960’s. Our 60 year old stations are not up to standards nor are they adequately sized or capable of housing all of the emergency equipment and vehicles necessary for today’s emergency responses. Further, the buildings do not have any place for necessary decontamination for our first responders. They are currently forced to perform that function in the garage or driveway. The Concord Fire Department has only one zone—a “Hot Zone” with no decontamination area and no storage for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Fire departments are now designed to have three zones to allow for safe decontamination of deadly carcinogens which allow for removal from personnel after a fire or when responding to calls which expose responders to blood, chemicals, radiation or biological toxins.
Additionally, building in this economic climate is ideal. With very low interest rates and construction costs stabilized, we can secure rates and bids that allow us to get more for our money. “The current drop in interest rates and a slowing of the commercial construction market offer the township an opportunity to further reduce the cost at a time when over half the township will not see an increase to their taxes with the expiration of the Morley Library levy,” said Amy Dawson, Fiscal Officer.
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