BRIDGEWATER — Town Manager Michael Dutton and the Fire Station Building Committee wish to share with the community details regarding the layout and interior features of the proposed Bridgewater Fire Headquarters.
There is a lack of space throughout the current Bridgewater Fire Headquarters building for supplies, equipment, and records and administrative needs. The apparatus bays are also too small to house all of the fire vehicles meant to be at headquarters. Firefighters’ living facilities are outdated and the building lacks handicap accessible areas and suitable bathroom facilities.
The proposed new station is designed to have the proper space to accommodate the station’s current personnel and equipment, and has space for future growth.
On the main floor of the proposed station is a new decontamination room to clean gear when firefighters return from calls where contamination was likely, as well as dedicated storage spaces for medical supplies, parts and tools, and other equipment.
The current station lacks space for current firefighters’ gear, new or extra gear and gear for newly hired firefighters. The new station is designed with a large room on the main floor that is outfitted with a large number of lockers to store firefighters’ turnout gear as well as extra gear.
The layout also features needed office and administrative space for training and EMS officers, fire prevention and emergency management personnel. Additionally, there is a conference room and a training classroom that will allow the department to conduct more trainings on-site. The classroom will also double as an Emergency Operations Center during an emergency or crisis.
The upper floor of the proposed station design features modern living facilities for on-duty firefighters, including private sleeping areas, dozens of lockers for firefighters’ personal items and a dedicated physical training room. Accessible bathroom facilities for men and women are also located in the station, along with a kitchen, dining area and day room.
The new station will also have properly-sized apparatus bays for fire vehicles. There are a number of newer and larger vehicles that should be housed at the current headquarters station, but due to its age and size, the station is not equipped to fit certain vehicles. The proposed new station features the necessary bay space and building height for the station’s multiple ambulances, engines and cars, as well as the tower truck and airboat.
The proposed fire headquarters station layout can be viewed here.
A portion of the funding included in a proposed debt exclusion will go toward mechanical and other necessary work at Station 2 (Prattown), including upgrading the storage spaces for equipment kept outdoors, which will extend the equipment’s usable life.
Voters will be asked whether they approve the proposed debt exclusion on the ballot at the town election on Saturday, April 23. The project would be funded via a debt exclusion, which permits the town to take on debt to pursue capital projects while temporarily increasing the tax rate. Once the debt service on the project is complete, the tax rate decreases. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Mitchell at the Middle School, 166 Mt. Prospect St.
About the Project:
The Bridgewater Fire Headquarters, located at 22 School St., has stood since the late 1850s. Today, the fire station serves as headquarters and accommodates over 50 personnel. In 2019, an ad hoc committee was convened to review the existing station, determine the needs of a modern department, find a potential new station location, and determine how the town can best address the existing station’s deficiencies.
A new station is proposed to be built at 1185 Pleasant St. This location is approximately 2.7 miles from the existing headquarters station and provides better, more accessible fire and EMS coverage for the western area of Bridgewater.
Voters will be asked to approve a $23 million debt exclusion to fund fire facilities projects. Approximately $2 million of this funding would go toward mechanical and other necessary upgrades at Station 2 (Prattown), which was built in 2000.
For More Information
Subscribe to Project Updates: An official project news blog website at bridgewaterfirestation.com has project information, documents, photos, project news and more. Community members are urged to subscribe to the news blog to receive email alerts when new updates are posted.
More information on the project can also be found on the town’s New Fire Headquarters website.
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