Crews assigned to Salisbury Fire Station 3 will finally be getting a new place to hang their helmets.
“The fire station was built in 1957, and it didn’t address things that a modern fire service would expect and would need,” Chief Robert Parnell told reporters as he gave them a tour.
He pointed out clear electrical hazards (for example, a sink is directly next to an electrical box), a sinking foundation, non-ADA compliant bathrooms, no space for a ladder truck, and no decontamination area for firefighters once they return from calls.
Now, firefighters need to stop at a different station to decontaminate themselves before they head back to Station 3.
“It takes everybody out of place, which can prolong the response times, and everything that we do is based on response times,” Deputy Fire Chief David Morris told reporters.
The fire station’s plans are being reviewed for approval from the appropriate agencies. After that, they will be sent out to contractors so that they will be able to submit fair bids.
Those will be received by late April. If council gives final approval on a bid and how to finance the station, then construction will begin around the end of summer and last 12-15 months. according to The Salisbury Post.
Firefighters at Station 3 also have to deal with just one bathroom forcing a 'one in, one out' policy.
