“After General Services came out, they identified some very specific smaller areas of mold within the living area of the fire station, so based on their best practices and recommendation, we wanted to take a conservative approach in keeping the safety and health of our own welfare and the public in mind,” said Captain Taylor Goodman with Henrico Fire. “The decision was made that we would just isolate the living area and fire station altogether and bring in a trailer where the personnel could operate out of while a contractor came and did some remediation in those affected areas.”

At least three firefighters from the six-member team will always remain on the premises. Not only can firefighters stay in the trailer, but they could also use the Hazmat truck.

“Years ago we developed a contingency plan for every fire station and every piece of critical infrastructure in the county so in case something happened – a storm can blow in tomorrow and damage the roof, there could be a fire, there could be anything – we have a contingency plan ready to go,” Goodman added.

Goodman says the temporary living arrangements should not impact residents in the area.

The honors of christening the new boat was given to Jesse and Torin Pacheco, two grandchildren of the late firefighter. Torin carried a bouquet as Jesse broke a bottle of champagne at the vessel's bow."This vessel has a proud name on its side, New Bedford Fire Department, and a proud name on its stern and that name is Jesse Pacheco," said Fire Chief Michael Gomes.The boat cost $880,000 and will be used to fight fires, search and rescue operations and oil spills and is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, including with side scan sonar to allow it to look for bodies under the water and infrared cameras for use in the dark and fog, according to Gomes. "You name it, it's got it," he said.The high-speed catamaran, which is propelled by water jets, was built in Petaluma, Calif., and the chief said he took it for a test drive in San Francisco Bay. "It handles like a dream," he said.A U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant provided 75 percent of the funding, the city kicked in another $100,000 and the remainder came from "other sources," Gomes said. "I'm very proud of it. It took a lot of effort to get it," he said.With about 300 fishing boats in port, Mayor Jon Mitchell said the new boat is "a significant asset" for the Fire Department and marine safety in general.

The new building will allow the Fire Department to better cover downtown and points beyond, Siecienski said.

“Now we come back to central Greenwich and have all our apparatuses in place so our response becomes faster in central Greenwich and provides a springboard into the backcountry as well,” he said.

The new building will allow firefighters who have been dispersed to other stations in town to come together again under one roof. It includes basic features common to modern firehouses that Greenwich firefighters have been lacking for a long time, the chief said.

“The best way to put it is there is nothing sexy about the building,” Siecienski said. “It’s a functional modern fire station.”

When the old firehouse was built, there weren’t many females in the industry, Siecienski said. As such, there wasn’t much privacy in the old building. The new one will have adequate facilities for firefighters of different genders, as well as larger common kitchen and dining facilities so everyone can eat together at one time.

Modern knowledge of contamination has also had an impact on the new design. The new station is equipped with segregated areas so firefighters returning from fire sites can clean off and remove their equipment without spreading dangerous toxins throughout the building.

The department decided to make four oversized bays, which hold the trucks, rather than five, Siecienski said. Two volunteer fire departments were displaced during the construction, and they will once again be able to move their rigs back to the central station.

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