By Jim Patten
The Eagle-Tribune
LAWRENCE, Mass. — One of two city firehouses left vacant in the wake of last month’s budget cuts and layoffs was broken into, police said.
“Like anything else, if you leave it sitting there, the bull’s-eye gets bigger each week,” deputy fire Chief John Marsh said yesterday morning as he checked the building.
Thieves forced the front door of Engine 8 at 329 Ames St., some time Monday night and took several portable fire department radios, acting Chief Brian Murphy said yesterday. The fire apparatus has been moved to other locations.
The break was discovered Tuesday morning by fire Lt. Rene Lavallee, who found the front door open while conducting a check of the building, police said.
Murphy said fire deputies have been checking Engine 8 and the Engine 6 firehouse at 480 Howard St., on Prospect Hill on a regular basis since they were closed last month.
In addition, Marsh said crews passing by the fire houses are stopping to check them as well.
Murphy said the Department of Public Works would look at ways to make the building harder to break into and police will do extra checks of the sites, he said.
“We’ve had no problems with Engine 6,” Murphy said. “We are keeping our fingers crossed.”
Last month the two engine houses were closed and 10 firefighters laid off in response to fiscal woes.
“We absolutely need the firehouses open,” Murphy said. “We are so short of manpower.”
Copyright 2009