The new, single-story facility will have dorms, administration offices and upgraded amenities – but no fire pole, which the old station had, but rarely used. New showers and locker rooms will serve both genders.

“This city will always honor him, will always remember him, will always be grateful for his service and sacrifice,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin (D).

A federal report found 10 factors led to Bell's death, including that his tank ran out of air. That report led to improvements across the Hartford Fire Department. 

“We will continue with forward progression, with structure, organization, discipline and accountability. That is something I can promise you today,” said Hartford Fire Chief Reginald Freeman.

This fire station is located in the neighborhood that Kevin Bell called home.

Schmaltz said the $493,000 truck has special equipment and will respond as a rescue vehicle but also carries water and pump for fires. It is the first of two trucks being added to the fire department fleet. A truck with a 100-foot ladder is being outfitted and firefighters are beginning to train on it before it is placed at Station 6 on Capital Avenue Southwest in May.

The new Rescue 3 truck has only two inches of clearance to enter the old station, the chief said.

The new engine has features typical of what you might see on a wild land fire engine which is going to be extremely helpful this fire season.

"It's replacing an engine that didn't have foam capabilities - foam mixed with water helps keep the fuels from getting the oxygen it needs to burn and secondly this vehicle has the ability to pump and roll which means it can actually move with a firefighter operating a line off the bumper tray," Lieberman tells us. 

And most importantly for the firefighters themselves, the new truck has a new design that will help prevent injuries while they're wearing nearly 100 pounds of equipment.