"By having them in all directions, north, south, east and west, we're able to respond to any emergency sooner with an average time because we are spread out,” said Chief Byron Herring.

Herring points out the importance of strategically placed fire stations with the city growing at a rapid pace.

Constructed in the 1890s, the existing Saxonville fire station is too small to house modern firefighting equipment, and officials have raised concerns the 15-ton fire engine garaged inside is too heavy for its concrete floor. The leaky roof is also due to be replaced, and electrical and fire systems are outdated.

The town used minor repairs to keep the station running, but the building is reaching the point where it's no longer structurally sound, Fire Chief Joseph Hicks said earlier this year. Losing the station could significantly hamper public safety, Hicks said, since it would take firefighters more than 4 minutes to reach destinations in Saxonville from the nearest stations, which exceeds the desired response time of under 4 minutes.

Town staff explored several potential sites for a replacement, including private properties and the old McAuliffe Library, but either couldn't reach agreements or determined they were otherwise unsuitable.

But he said studies of the danger of carcinogens have prompted the fire department to take precautions, especially since firefighters are carrying their dirty equipment around in their cars.

The new dryer is a more powerful version of a commercial-grade washer and dryer and it will draw contaminants out of the clothing.

Instead, paramedics continued to place patients on old-fashioned stretchers and lift them into the ambulance, despite the risk of shoulder. neck and back injuries and the remote possibility of dropping an overweight patient.

Meanwhile, many private ambulance companies in the suburbs made the switch to electric cots that eliminate the need for heavy lifting and speed the process of loading patients into the ambulance.