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$6.9M firehouse renovation puts Mass. firefighter health, safety front and center

Lynn’s renovated Fayette Street Fire Station features improved exhaust removal, decontamination areas and separation between contaminated gear and firefighter living spaces

$6.9M Mass. firehouse renovation puts firefighter health, safety front and center.jpg

Lynn’s renovated Fayette Street Fire Station adds new safety features designed to better protect firefighter health.

Lynn Fire Department/Facebook

By Haley Hadge
Daily Item

LYNN, Mass. — The Fayette St. Fire Station officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating $6.9 million in renovations aimed at improving safety for firefighters and the public.

Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said, “Our firefighters do amazing work and have the highest standards of professionalism, and they deserve facilities that live up to those standards.”

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Nicholson added, “We have work to do in that regard, and we hope that this is an example of what we can do when we have both the resources and the will and the follow-through.”

He said renovations included interior demolition, reconfiguration and expansion of the living quarters, operational support, the building’s roof, new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire alert system, exterior improvements, and a new driveway.

Nicholson thanked the residents who neighbored the temporary relocation at 19 Porter St. for their patience and understanding throughout the renovation process.

Capt. Jon Godbout said that to maneuver the fire trucks along narrow Porter Street, parking had to be restricted to one side of the road.

Godbout said Porter Street was an effective temporary solution, but it limited the firefighters to a one-way exit route. The Fayette Street station allows firefighters to exit in multiple directions.

Public information officer Lt. Denis Ring said Engine 5 completes more than 4,000 runs per year, and Ladder 1 completes more than 2,500.

He added, “It’s the busiest house in the city.”

Lynn Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan said the station has a new exhaust system and greater separation between firefighters and chemical-affected uniforms.

The industrial washer is located on the main floor, and the living area is located on the upper level, Sullivan said.

He said the changes will better protect firefighters’ health.

Ring said for many of the firefighters, the station serves as a second home.

The renovations and additions allowed for a larger kitchen, recreation area, and workout room where firefighters can rest and prepare for their next call, said Ring.

Ring said the “hot zone” in a fire station is where gear is unloaded and cleaned, while the “cold zone” is where firefighters eat, sleep, exercise, and convene.

He added keeping the zones separate is important for firefighters’ health.

City Council President Coco Alinsug said, “This renovation stands as a testament to our commitment to advancing the safety and well-being of our firefighters and improving the lives of those they serve.”

Alinsug said the renovation will expand the Fire Department’s capacity to serve the public.

Additional renovations include a new HVAC system, a PA system, and updated vehicle exhaust systems for the fire trucks.

“But buildings and equipment are only part of the equation. The heart of this new building and our entire Lynn Fire Department is our people,” Alinsug said.

“Your skills, compassion, and tireless dedication are the true force within these walls. This new building is as much a tribute to your hard work as it is a tool to support it … Let this moment mark not just the completion of a renovation project, but the beginning of a new era for our community,” Alinsug said.

Station design is no longer just about housing apparatus. It is about supporting the people who respond from it.
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