West Falmouth Residents Speak Out Against Fire Station Closure

WEST FALMOUTH–West Falmouth residents are speaking out against the future closure of the West Falmouth Fire Station.

The town recently announced the station would be closing in July, citing needed technological improvements and outdated deployment models as reasoning.

Since then, residents have given written and verbals comments on the matter.

West Falmouth resident Martha Gilbert spoke at a meeting with the Board of Selectmen this week. She wants the station to remain open with improvements, or at least until a new station is operational.

“With this closure, I’m concerned with the increase of emergency response time from virtually a few minutes to almost 10 minutes, at best,” Gilbert explained.

Gilbert cited that the national recommended response time is around six minutes, and that the data provided in an October meeting regarding response times was collected in May, as opposed to the busier summer months.

Gilbert commended the work done by the station throughout the years, and argued that their services are necessary for the community.

“In my 23 years of living in West Falmouth, I’ve witnessed critical rescues performed by our local station,” she continued.

“I value the safety and peace of mind our dedicated rescue workers provide out of Station Number Four.”

Gilbert’s remarks were met with applause from the audience.

The current plan is to build a new fire station and to consolidate the West and North Falmouth stations into a single, more efficient, and modern station.

Chief Michael Small has recognized concerns raised, and has requested additional funding in the upcoming annual budget to allow for proper staffing numbers. Small mentioned that the West Falmouth location has been a one-man station since it opened around 90 years ago.

About Brendan Fitzpatrick

Brendan, a recent graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is one of the newest members of the CapeCod.com NewsCenter team. When not on the beat, you'll probably find him watching Boston sports.



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