Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department seeks two-story extension

The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department is currently negotiating with the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, and the North Lawrence Fire District about its proposal to construct a two-story extension to the department’s existing firehouse located at the intersection of Washington and Central avenues in Lawrence.

The department, which contracts for its services with Lawrence Cedarhurst and North Lawrence, is also negotiating new agreements with those entities, Department Chief Joseph Sperber said. The present contracts expire on June 1.

Village of Cedarhurst Deputy Mayor Ben Weinstock said the fire department is an independent not-for profit organization in which the villages need to hire to provide fire services. “They come to us with their budget of expenses and both villages share the costs of the fire department,” he said.

Weinstock said the fire department’s proposed extension would face Washington Avenue. The newer, larger fire trucks that are no longer able to fit in the current firehouse would be housed in the first floor of the extension. More than likely the second floor will be used as training space and the department’s command center, he said.

Lack of space is a problem for the firefighters, according to Sperber, who said the emergency fire vehicles are parked behind one another and moving them results in lost response time.

“The extension would improve emergency response time and make safer working conditions for the 70 active volunteers,” said Sperber, who added that the firefighters would have more room to put on their protective gear and the extension would create a safer in-house environment.

Weinstock said that the current 108-year-old firehouse has low ceilings because fire engines were built smaller years ago but are now barely fitting into the building so the extension is necessary. He also said the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department would like to update their current sprinkler system and generator.

“They’re very old and insufficient to run the entire building,” Weinstock said about the sprinkler system and generator. “If there was an emergency in the village, the fire department would need a place to house their staff and would need power to continue to operate. If they can’t run their own power, they wouldn’t be able to communicate or function.”

Though both villages have met with the fire department to discuss possible plans and financial aspects, no formal plans have been drawn up, and neither village has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the proposed extension.

Village of Lawrence Administrator David Smollett said it’s too early to say how the village thinks about the proposed extension. “They (the fire department) provide a critical and essential service to the community,” he said. “It’s too premature to say anything but we should have more figures in the next month or so.”

According to Weinstock, the village is working on figuring the actual cost of the planned extension and how it can be financed. He intends to bring the proposal to a public hearing and let the public hear a presentation by the fire department.

“They’re terrific first responders to fires and they’re very dedicated volunteer firefighters,” he said. “But they need the tools to do the job they signed up to do.”