The current Bath fire station. Photo contributed by Marc Meyers
Bath voters approved borrowing $13 million Tuesday to build a new home for the city’s fire department after officials deemed the current fire station unsafe.
“The department and I are very excited and appreciative of the support we get from this city,” said Bath Fire Chief Lawrence Renaud on Wednesday.
The bond passed with 2,731 votes in favor and 1,264 against, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.
The current fire station was built in 1957 and deemed to be in “poor condition” in 2009. The station was then recommended for replacement in 2020 by Harriman, an architectural firm hired by the town, according to Bath City Manager Marc Meyers.
Concerns with the current facility include poor air quality, the absence of a sprinkler system, diesel exhaust contamination, inadequate garage bays and doorways, and stacking of emergency vehicles.
City councilors voted to send the bond to a referendum last August, following a 2021 “reuse report” that named the former Morse High School as a desirable site for a new fire station.
Going forward, the city will borrow $13 million to pay for the design, construction and station equipment, while the remaining $3.5 million will be paid using existing tax increment financing funds.
Acknowledging the amount of work ahead, Renaud said he hopes to be moved into the new fire station in three years’ time.
“We plan on continuing to move forward with the necessary project requirements ensuring that the citizens, firefighters and EMTs will get a new facility that will last for the next 75 years,” Renaud said. “The city really supports our mission, and they want us to continue to have what we need to continue to do that.”
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