FD Returns to Firehouse After 7-Year Absence

Though construction on the firehouse isn't yet complete, the South Orange Fire Department reoccupied the firehouse on Tuesday after a seven-year displacement, following the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy by the building department earlier this month.

Renovation and expansion of the firehouse has been underway since 2002, and firefighters have been working out of trailers on Sloan Street. Built in 1925 and listed on the state and national historic registers, the firehouse has undergone a gutting and renovation of its interior, which included environmental remediation and the addition of a bay for an engine. Exterior improvements include restoration of all brass fixtures, including historic lanterns mounted outside the building, and replacement of the slate roof with similar materials for historic consistency.

Interior improvements include new epoxy floors, lowered 6 inches to accommodate modern equipment; relocation of the kitchen and communications center to the second floor; a new HVAC system; renovation of living quarters on the second floor with facilities for men and women; and a new fitness center.

Grants for the $3.93 million project totaled approximately $779,000. The majority of funding—$440,675 for restoring historic aspects of the building—came from the New Jersey Historic Trust. Another $140,000 for general construction came from the state Department of Community Affairs, and about $98,000 was recently bestowed by FEMA to monitor firefighter health and add wellness equipment.