PRESS RELEASE

The Ocean City Fire Department officially broke ground on the new Midtown Fire Station 3 on Monday, March 27.

The 23,504 square-foot, two-story facility carries a $10.6 million price tag, should take 12 months to complete, and will be paid for with bonds issued last year, oceancitytoday.com reported.

One of the key features of the new facility is the independently ventilated turnout gear storage and multi-tier decontamination suite. These elements are crucial in preventing cancer in firefighters, as exposure to toxic chemicals and smoke can increase the risk of developing cancer. The new station’s design demonstrates the city’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its firefighters.

“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone for the Ocean City Fire Department,” said Fire Chief Richie Bowers. “We are excited to have a state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to better serve the community and provide our firefighters with the necessary tools and resources to keep them safe.”

The building was designed by MW Studios, a Maryland-based architectural firm with extensive experience in designing fire stations and other public safety facilities. The contractor selected for the project is Delmarva Veteran Builders (DVB), a company founded by Navy veteran Chris Eccleston in 2013. DVB’s goal is to provide quality construction while maintaining a 50% veteran, guard, and reservist workforce.

The new station will replace the existing Station 3, located at 74th Street and Coastal Highway. The first floor includes four double deep, drive-through apparatus bays, independently ventilated turnout gear storage, and a multi-tier decontamination suite. Three independent mezzanines provide auxiliary storage, host various in-station high angle training exercises, and a dedicated fully enclosed fitness area.

The front and rear egress stairs are designed in a manner that allows them to be utilized for training, providing vital space for EMT’s and firefighters to hone their skills. The building was also designed with the coastal environment in mind, ensuring it can withstand whatever inclement weather is thrown at it.

“We are proud to invest in our fire and emergency medical services with the construction of this new facility,” said City Manager Terry McGean. “The new station will not only enhance our ability to serve the community but also provide a safer and more efficient work environment for our firefighters and EMS clinicians.”

Construction on the new station is expected to be completed by late Summer of 2024.

Become Part of History

All supporters of the Ocean City Fire Department are encouraged to purchase a brick paver to become a permanent part of our distinct entranceway. This is an excellent opportunity to show your support for our firefighters and EMS providers while becoming a part of the Ocean City Fire Department for the rest of your life.

Your donation will help fund furniture, fixtures, and equipment, enabling us to provide the best service possible to our community. Whether you purchase a brick with your name, the name of a loved one, or in honor of a firefighter or veteran

The spot where A1A (Anastasia Boulevard) hits Red Cox Drive has had a history of crashes, some of them deadly, firstcoastnews.com reported.

The Florida Department of Transportation has paid for traffic studies in the area, the report said.

The studies propose plans to reconfigure the intersection. One option is loosely called the “peanut” and another option was nicknamed the “dog bone.” And the option the city of St. Augustine and the state are considering the most seems to be a third option – a roundabout, according to the report.

However, it means the St. Augustine fire station at that intersection would have to relocate. The latest idea being floated is to build a new fire station about a half a mile away in a wooded area immediately across from the St. Augustine Amphitheater, the report said.

A flyer about the plan from the city of St. Augustine states the current fire station was built in 1995 and “is painfully undersized and underequipped at 2,700 square feet.”

To schedule a meeting or provide input, email CityFire@CityStAug.com.

Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
(TNS)

An FDNY chief who oversaw the department’s firefighting boats — including one involved in a fatal East River crash last year — has been forced to turn in his retirement papers, court papers reveal.

Chief Richard Blatus was FDNY’s acting chief of operations at the time of the June 17, 2022 incident that took the life of Johnny Beernaert, a Belgian firefighter aboard the fireboat Marine 1 Bravo on a tour in the East River.

• FDNY Marine 1 Bravo Hit by Charter Boat, Belgian Firefighter Killed

A month after the crash, Blatus was moved to another position. He eventually put in papers for his retirement, which sources said took formal effect Thursday.

A lawsuit filed by a group of FDNY chiefs and Daily News sources say Blatus, 63, was browbeaten into retirement by the Fire Department.

Jim Walden, a lawyer who says he represents Blatus as well as the chiefs who sued Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, called Blatus’ demotion an example of the commissioner’s “terrible decision making,” carried out “without cause” and “illegally.”

Walden said he and his clients “look forward to deposing the commissioner, to explore the reasons she violated standard operating procedure” in Blatus’ case.

A call to Blatus for comment was not immediately returned.

Blatus is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit by high-ranking chiefs who claim they were harassed, maligned and ultimately demoted because they were too old in Kavanagh’s eyes. But his retirement highlights tactics used to get older FDNY chiefs to retire, say sources and legal papers.

The lawsuit, filed March 23, also alleges that the nighttime fireboat joyride that took Beernaert’s life was initiated by a retired FDNY captain who “activated FDNY’s Marine 1 Bravo and took civilians on a ride without authorization.” The captain had retired from the department before the crash, sources said.

A source with knowledge of the case confirmed that the retired captain cajoled an active FDNY member to pilot the boat, but never asked anyone of a higher rank for permission to take the vessel out.

Beernaert, his wife, the retired FDNY captain and the captain’s wife were on a nighttime ride on the East River aboard Marine 1 Bravo when the fireboat coll

PRESS RELEASE

Due to the recent growth of the city and the need for additional services for the Point of Pines, Oak Island and beach front communities, the Point of Pines Fire Station underwent a feasibility study to determine if continued full-time use of the station could commence with improvement of the existing building or replacement of the building was necessary to meet modern fire and EMS services, according to the city of Revere. In addition, the city emergency services are in need of a training center, and the Point of Pines community is in need of a voting center and a gathering point for other such community activities.

Based on the results of the feasibility study, the consultants determined the modern needs for fire and EMS services had rendered the existing building cost prohibitive for repairs and upgrades. Therefore, design services were procured for the replacement of the fire station to include modern fire and EMS services, a training center for the city emergency services, and provide the Point of Pines a community room for voting, meetings, and community activities.

Please refer to the additional information herein for details and progress of the station development.

Timeline

As of March 2023, this is the timeline of the Point of Pines Fire Station Project:

• May 2019 – A feasibility study was completed
• July 2019 – Bond for construction was issued
• July 2020 – OPM (Project Manager) contracted
• November 2020 – Architect selected and contracted (Winter Street Architects)
• June 2020 – Schematic Design Completed
• July 2021 – Existing firehouse was demolished
• September 2021 – Design Development
• October 2021 – 65% construction documents completed
• December 2021 – City is notified that due to the land transfer it is required to submit a MEPA filing
• February 2022 – Construction documents 100% completed
• February 2022 – MEPA EENF and EIR Filing submitted
• April 2022 – EENF Decision for Single EIR submitted
• May 2022 – Construction plans redesigned with enhanced flood resiliency considerations to exceed flood plain elevation considerations
• June 2022 – Single EIR submitted to MEPA, including a redesign of plans for increased resiliency for flood considerations
• July 11, 2022– The Revere Conservation Commission issued its approval of the project with conditions.
• July 22, 2022- The MA DEP issued a notice of appeal and assumed jurisdiction over the project.
• August 1, 2022- We received the approved MEPA certificate for the Single Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) that was submitted on June 15, 2022.
• August 11, 2022- The MA DEP has scheduled a meeting and a site visit @ the Point of Pines site on Thursday August 18^th @ 1PM to address their concerns.
• August 18, 2022- MA DEP did a site survey/walkthrough of the construction site with representatives from the mayor’s office, state delegation, local elected officials, as well as several residents from the Point of Pines. The DEP reviewed the floodplain maps and firehouse layout and listened to the concerns of all the stakeholders. The DEP will follow up with their ruling within a month.
• August 24, 2022– The MA DEP withdrew their a