WURTSBORO — Since 1898, the Wurtsboro Fire District has been a staple in the community. The current building was built in 1969 after the original structure was destroyed and is approximately 8,000 square feet, a size that is no longer conducive to the work of the district's more than 70 volunteers, 40 of which are active members.

For Bill Lothrop, Deputy Fire Coordinator for Battalion 5, the fire district is in dire need of a facility that allows them to have the space to conduct their work. There are several issues with the current building, which is owned by the village and is shared with the village's main office and a community room.

According to Lothrop, the site is not OSHA compliant and does not meet the state's firehouse standards. Furthermore, the main area where the station's firetrucks are housed lacks the proper ventilation systems to which the trucks are connected to after each call.

There are also no separate showers nor changing rooms for men and women, nor is there sufficient external parking. The internal space is quite cramped for the volunteers to maneuver their way around vehicles and equipment properly and many times Lothrop has witnessed volunteers tripping over each other as they prepare to leave for an emergency call.

“This is not a 2019 firehouse,” stated Lothrop.

Some discussion has been had about renovating the current site, but for Lothrop, “it will take a lot to renovate” the building and to bring it up to current regulations and standards. He also stressed that the village could make use of the space if the new building is approved and that it could be a significant asset for the village office, which is also outgrowing its space.

The fire district is responsible for covering nearly 27 square miles, which includes parts of Rockhill, Airport Road, Route 209, and Route 17. “We cover the most dangerous part of Route 17,” stressed Lothrop, a path stretches from exits 114 to 112, the latter of which is sometimes referred to as “dead man's curve.”

‘On average, the fire district receives more than 300 calls yearly equaling to nearly 3,000 volunteer hours.

To house extra equipment and supplies, the fire district is using a secondary site located near the old town highway, a site that has been owned by the district for over 100 years. Unfortunately, this structure is in poor condition and has suffered several structural issues, including a roof cave in a few years ago. However, this site will be converted into the new home for the district.

The proposed $3.9 million project will provide the district and its volunteers with 17,000 square feet, nearly twice as much of the current building. Nonetheless, this is not the first time that the district has asked the village and residents for a new facility. In 2014, residents were asked to vote on a similar proposal that totaled more than $4.7 million. By a close margin, the plan has rejected. According to Lothrop, many residents felt that the price tag was too high. Therefore, the district went back to the drawing board to create a more cost-effective proposal. “I'm so proud of this department,” stated Lothrop. “And it's time.”

Residents of the Village of Wurtsboro will be asked to vote on this new project in two weeks, and Lothrop is confident that residents will vote in favor of a new firehouse. Additionally, according to Lothrop, the project is well supported by Mamakating Town Supervisor Bill Herrmann.

The public vote for the new firehouse will take place on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, from noon to 9 pm at the Wurtsboro Firehouse located at 91 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro, NY.