Bernardston (MA) citizens recently voted to allow the town to pursue construction of a station addition with a four-bay garage, parking lot, and office space, for up to $3 million, reports recorder.com, though officials predict the cost will be closer to $2.4 million.

According to an official, a $3 million loan would be paid off over 40 years at 2.25% interest. The department has been pushing for a new station since the mid-‘90s. Brian DeVriese, an architect from Jablonski DeVriese Architects, designed the station proposal.

The existing station at 18 Church St. is about 2,500 square feet, and the addition on the adjacent property at 12 Church St. would be about 5,500 square feet. The current station, which was built in the 1970s, is outdated and potentially a hazard. The current station also has no storage space for equipment while the addition will include a storage area as well as office and administrative space.

The next step is a vote to move forward with construction.

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Sherrills Ford Terrell (NC) Fire & Rescue (SFTFR) recently broke ground on new digs to replace its 50-year-old station, reports mooresvilletribune.com. The new station is slated to be completed and in operation by early 2022.

Station 4, located at 2080 Mollys Backbone Rd., was imagined 13 years ago but other obligations held it up. It will cost $2.7 million and will house a crew of two firefighters along with an engine, a tanker, and QRV for medical first response.

The station encompasses 14,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a training room, office space, and five apparatus drive-thru bays. The department will also be able to house some of its other response trailers and logistical equipment that is now being stored at one of SFTFR’s other three fire stations.

SFTFR will continue to use the old fire station beside the school for training and logistical operations.

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On the heels of a burglary in southeast Atlanta (GA) at Station 2 that saw six personal vehicles damaged, there will be some short- and long-term help for area firefighters, reports fox5atlanta.com.

Concerned citizens have so far raised $1,100 to reduce the cost of replacing the windows, which is about 40% of their goal.

The recent break-in compromised a rear fence gate, so razor wire was added to the station fence. In addition, officials say that stations that do not have surveillance cameras will soon get them, and that each camera must be linked to the police department’s downtown monitoring locations.

The city of Haverhill (MA) has spent about $300,000 to install a new roof and windows at the Water Street station, reports eagletribune.com.

Officials say the renovations include a $150,000 roof and $152,000 worth of windows. The station’s old windows were more than 30 years old and of residential, not commercial, grade. The new double-pane, argon-filled, energy-efficient fiberglass windows are seven times stronger than vinyl windows. Officials say Pella Windows sold 95 of its Impervia windows to the city at a 50% discount.

Other improvements are planned for the Water Street and High Street stations. In addition to a new rescue truck at the Water Street station, its Engine 3 and the High Street station’s Engine 1 are being replaced with new trucks that are on order.

Officials say that once those engines arrive, the engines currently at the Water Street and High Street stations will go to the 16th Avenue and Bradford stations, and the engines now at those stations will be placed on reserve.