Officials from Colchester Fire Protection District approached the Colchester Committee of the Whole on Monday about the prospects of buying new land and constructing an expansion to the fire station to keep up with the high volume of incoming calls.
The Colchester Fire Protection District has a long record of service to the area Assistant Chief Roger Hodges recalled. The fire department started in 1966 when Jack Thurman poured concrete for Fire House One. At that time there were three or four units and around 12 people. Over the years the department has expanded to nine units and more than 24 people.
Costs, calls and personnel expanded when the fire department transitioned to include fire-rescue capabilities with an influx of 25 calls per day in 1976, compared to about 211 so far this year.
The proposed expansion would be located east of the firehouse, and include an enclosed space which would more than double the current space with a walkway connecting the expansion to the firehouse. The facility would increase the room for training, storage, computer equipment, vehicles and a dressing area for firefighters to change into their equipment, Hodges said.
Money is available for the proposed expansion through grants, Hodges said, “While we can get the money, we cannot yet get the land we need to buy to build the expansion.”
Council Member Catherine Louderman, who chairs the Buildings and Grounds committee, said that a meeting would need to be held during which the fire department’s request to buy land east of the firehouse could be discussed, approved by the full city council for a vote, and then potentially sell the land.
While a meeting for the Building and Grounds committee is still being scheduled, Louderman seemed sure in her statements that the matter would be taken up by city council members who view the fire department as a top-priority to benefit the community.
“Invest in the future of the Colchester Fire-Rescue so that we can serve you better and be there when you need us. Training and safety is paramount,” Hodges said.
