Fire Officials Set Up in Temporary Digs

East Providence Fire Department officials have relocated to the Sweetland House behind the Senior Center at 610 Waterman Ave.

Expect them to reside there for at least 10 months, said East Providence Fire Chief Joseph Klucznik.

The temporary relocation is necessary during the renovation of the firre headquarters at Station #1 in Rumford.

Klucznik said the new temporary offices for the top fire officials were selected over 175 Amaral St., where fire personnel and apparatus from Station #4 have been relocated as well. That building works well for firefighters; not so good for offices.

The relocations are the result of a $6.4 million Station Construction Grant that the fire department obtained through the Federal Emergency Management Agency via the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, said the fire chief.

The grant allows for the complete renovations of Station #1 (Headquarters), located at 913 Broadway, and Station # 4, located at 66 Wampanoag Trail. 

Fire apparatus and responding fire personnel will remain at Fire Station #1 during the construction phase. 

All fire department telephone numbers will remain the same, Klucznik said, although fire officials were getting used to the brand new phone system installed in all East Providence government offices.

The fire chief and his staff, the fire prevention staff, the fire marshals, and the fire alarm inspector can now be found in Sweetland House, which also houses the community policing and internal affairs offices of the police department.

Engine 4, Rescue 4 and the director of emergency medical services are working out of 175 Amaral St.

Call the fire chief with any questions at 401-435-7677 or email him at chief@eastprovfire.com.