Dennis Selectmen Endorse New Fire Station 2

DENNIS – Selectmen in Dennis recently endorsed the construction of a new Fire Station 2.

A new fire station would replace the current 62-year-old facility on Old Bass River Road which supports the north section of Dennis.

Fire Chief Mark Dellner says the current station is inadequate.

“The current building is 62 years old, has some serious infrastructure issues and is worsening in its health and safety concerns for the firefighters who live there 24/7,” Dellner said.

Dellner also suggested moving the station closer to Route 134.

“That will help with quicker access into the north Dennis region than we do now,” he said.

Ted Galante, from Galante Architecture Studio in Cambridge, which conducted a feasibility study, recently recommended a new building at a new location.

The current facility is 4,000 square feet and a new building that is at least 14,000 square feet is recommended.

Galante said that renovations or a new structure at the current site wasn’t possible due to space restraints.

One of the reasons for the larger space is to keep firefighters from being in constant proximity to hazardous materials on gear and equipment. Galante said the station should have a decontamination zone and that the current station does not have room for such an area.

The decontamination areas are gaining in popularity for new fire facilities as studies have shown that firefighters are exposed to conditions that result in much higher rates of cancer.

Zoning restrictions in the historical district and earthquake stabilization are other reasons why the current site is not recommended.

Galante also looked into town-owned property in the study for potential locations for a new station. Two areas on Route 134 and Hokum Rock Road were not a good fit. The most feasible piece of town property for the station is on Paddock’s Path, but Galante said that location, on an old sand pit, is not ideal.

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