A New Fire Station In Barnstable? Committee Says Yes

BARNSTABLE, MA — The aging fire station on Main Street may be in it's final days after a committee recommended that the town work toward building a new station.

The recently formed Fire Station Building Needs Committee recommends that the Barnstable Fire District move forward with plans to replace the station at 3249 Main Street.

This comes after a study found that not only is the station non-compliant in areas like firefighter safety, ADA accessibility and other aspects, but also that the station footprint can't house all of the station's vehicles, apparatuses and staff.

The Main Street station was built in 1935 and has been remodeled since, but a study found that the space won't be able to grow along with the town's expanding population and fire district growth.

So what's the path forward?

A plan is proposed to demolish the Barnstable Water Department offices at 1841 Phinney's Lane and replace it with a modern fire station that will "serve the residents and guests of the Barnstable Fire District for the next 50 years."

The town would still use the Main Street station, officials said, as once the fire department moves to Phinney's Lane, the water department and other district offices would move into the fire station.

Additionally, a portion of the Main Street space would be repurposed as a first-floor community space that can be used for annual meetings and other events.

The plan still needs approval for funding, which could come at the Barnstable Fire District's annual meeting.