South End Fire Station Revisited

Seekonk residents may have another opportunity to vote for a new fire station for the town’s south end. Select Board member Gary Sagar proposed a special town meeting for September.

The $9.5 million project was rejected at the May town meeting by a vote of 112 – 108. A two thirds vote was needed to pass the article.
Sagar claimed at the board’s June 25 meeting that fire department response times to the south end averaged between nine and 12 minutes with some responses as much as 15 minutes.

Voters at the May 2020 town meeting allocated $425,000 for the design of the facility at the site of the former school administration building at 69 School Street. The town intends to demolish that property. The 8300 square foot building would have consisted of three components, including dispatch, living quarters, and fire suppression.

Fire Chief Shaun Whalen explained that if the station were to be built, some firefighters would need to be reassigned from the other two stations – the Banna station on Pine Street and the Police/Fire Headquarters on Taunton Avenue. Additional staff would also need to be hired.