LYNN — Completion of the Fayette Street Fire Station has been delayed, fire officials said.
The department announced on Facebook on July 1 that “progress is being made at Fort Fayette,” citing the work underway at the station.
The Facebook post said Engine Company 5, Ladder Company 1, and H-1 were “looking to reoccupy their quarters by the end of the month.”
The work done to the building, which has an estimated cost of $6.9 million, included renovations and an addition to the station.
Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan said, “They were looking to do an opening soon, but they’re going to push it off a little bit. So we don’t have a date yet that I know of when we’re going to allow the members to occupy the building, but it shouldn’t be much longer. But we don’t have a specific date. But before we do that, we will do an open house and ribbon cutting and invite the public.”
Deputy Chief Roger Alley, the department’s liaison with the city’s inspectional services department, said, “Basically they gutted the whole place, added on to it, and they’re redoing all the rooms and reconfiguring the building itself. So, it was just a tremendous amount of work to be done, and as far as getting the finishing touches on it, I’m not sure.”
The new station will also include a designated area to charge batteries, which moves them out of offices and living areas to reduce the risk of fires and contamination, Sullivan said.
Alley said a PA system and radios also had to be installed in the building.
Once operational, the station will be staffed by nine firefighters at a time: an engine company of four, a ladder company of four, and a safety officer, according to Deputy Chief Roger Alley.
Sullivan said the department appreciates “the support of the city for doing this for our people. I think it’ll help morale. A lot of our stations are older, and anytime we can get any kind of upgrades, the members truly appreciate it.”
Currently, the fire companies assigned to the Fayette Street station work out of a temporary location on Porter Street while renovations are underway. “We appreciate the public’s patience with all of this, with allowing us to kind of set up a temporary station in their neighborhood,” Sullivan said.
He said, “Once we go back into the primary station, it’s going to be easier to get in and out of the station. It’s a pretty wide square, and the guys are familiar with it — most of the people who work there have been there for 15 or 20 years, if not more. Getting them back into their home, I think they’re excited for it.”
