The demolition and reconstruction is part of a multi-year plan to replace three outdated fire stations. Hoback approached the residents at their neighborhood meeting at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church to ask them for their input on the design of the fire station.

 

Hoback has led the construction of three fire stations already in his decade as chief. He said he’s using the same approach this time around: community involvement. He wants representatives from the neighborhoods to provide input to architects so the community can have a fire station that feels integrated with the rest of the neighborhood.

Kelsey said she's received inquiries from across the country about the boxes, including more than 250 calls and emails in one day. The boxes provide complete anonymity for a baby's mother and a silent alarm alerts emergency medical services personnel that the box is in use.  

Four boxes are scheduled for installation in Indiana and Ohio next year, although Kelsey declines to be specific about where.

Before the new Rescue 1 could receive the blessing, however, it had to return from a job.

Dignitaries assembled for the 4 p.m. ceremony at the Franklin Street Fire Station waited until the rescue truck returned from a reported building fire on Terrace Road.

“This piece of equipment isn’t just sitting here - it’s out doing exactly what it was intended to do, to serve and protect the people of the city of Worcester,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said.

“And it’s the amazing dedicated firefighters ... that make these pieces of equipment come alive every day and be the tools that they need to get the job done that we all expect of them,” Mr. Augustus said.

The 20 foot by 40 foot building sits just to the east of the Senior Center. Construction began about two weeks ago and should be completed sometime in early January if weather cooperates.

Russ Zeeb, president of Papillion Volunteer Fire Department Inc., said the building will be a fitting home for the 70-year-old truck.

“This is not a garage, it’s a museum,” Zeeb said. “We want a place to put the truck so it can be visible to the public.”

The truck, purchased new by the department 70 years ago, was recently donated back to PVFD by Joel and Lynette Janssen. It currently sits at Fire Station 3 in Papillion, but will move to its new home in early 2018.