Lakeville Fire Station
Project Update - design continues!
In a pivotal moment at Lakeville’s Annual Town Meeting on Monday, June 10, 2024, the Town demonstrated its commitment to progress by approving Design Development funds, which are crucial to advancing the Fire Station Project. The town's endorsement ensures the continuation of the design process, led by Saccoccio & Associates Architects, distinguished by their innovative Fire Station architectural solutions. Pomroy Associates will continue to oversee project management, bringing their public safety expertise to streamline execution and ensure the project aligns with community expectations. This decisive allocation of funds marks a significant step forward in Lakeville's journey toward enhancing its Fire Station! It fosters anticipation and optimism among residents for the project developments ahead.
In an effort to provide the town with up-to-date knowledge on improvements needed at the town’s fire station, Fire Chief Michael O’Brien gave PA a tour of their facility, discussing barriers that prevent firefighters from doing their jobs efficiently.
Floor Plans
The floor plans shown below are the latest designs, provided by Saccoccio & Associates, Inc. This current plan has an extensive apparatus bay, where most of Lakeville’s Fire Equipment can be stored, such as their boats. As of right now, the safety boats, and other vehicles, do not have proper coverage and are left outdoors. Ideally, emergency vehicles are stored inside during their off-season for protection against the elements. This protection means longevity for such vehicles!
Women in the Workforce
The Lakeville Fire Department currently has five women on-staff, 15% of our workforce. Women account for less than 5% of all firefighters nationally. A new Fire Station would provide both the comfort and the legal requirements of housing both men and women in public workforce stations.
The current facility does not have private areas for people to dress down and decontaminate after a biohazard exposure or fire incident. All gendered firefighters are reluctant to properly clean up after these incidents, causing contamination to be spread throughout the building. This results in increased health concerns for responders due to increased direct and secondary exposure in their contaminated living area. A new facility would better the work performance and health safety for both men and women on duty for the town of Lakeville.
Occupational Cancer Protections
-Fire Chief Michael O’Brien
Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general population.
In considering the threat of cancer to our firefighters, fire service administrators are required to make improvements to both our practices, and our facilities. The Lakeville Fire Department’s leadership, within the limitations of our facility, have instituted policies designed to minimize exposure of our firefighters to cancer-causing agents.
The current fire station lacks the capability to employ some of the most effective cancer protective measures. These measures include the segregation of living spaces from contaminated areas, utilizing positive air pressure, strategic positioning of building features to minimize contaminated spaces, effective deployment of vehicle exhaust capture systems, and the deployment of the decontamination equipment.
The construction of a new fire station would include the most effective technologies and engineering intended to protect firefighters’ health and wellbeing. A new fire facility could provide the protective measures necessary to save the life of one of our firefighters. It will, without question, significantly reduce the likelihood of our firefighters contracting occupational cancer.
I would submit that these safety measures are the least we can do for the people who put themselves on the line for our safety.
A New Fire Station is an Aid to Recruitment and Retention
-Fire Chief Michael O’Brien
The Lakeville Fire Department is currently operating during a nationwide paramedic shortage crisis. Our Department currently competes with area communities to attract and retain qualified recruits - simply stated, there are more paramedic positions in our region then there are paramedics to fill them.
Despite efforts by Lakeville leadership to improve firefighter compensation, and the improvements to department resources, we continue to lose employees at an alarming rate. There are zero current, full-time employees who have more than 11 years of service in Lakeville. The continued loss of community knowledge and experience has, without question, a direct impact on public safety.
One of the most common complaints made by our departing firefighters is about the quality of their working conditions at the Lakeville fire station. The departing firefighters feel a connection to the community of Lakeville and insist they want to stay, but the appeal of improved and safer working conditions, paired often with higher pay, is too much to resist.
Until we have a reasonable fire station to work from, one that provides sensible quarters and protections against cancer-causing hazards, our staff will continue to have unmanageable rates of turnover. The firefighters that do stay in Lakeville could easily find employment elsewhere - they would not lose any time toward retirement, and many departments would honor their Lakeville service for pay calculation. But they stay…
They stay in Lakeville because they have hope that our community will repay their service by awarding them a safe place to work, and reasonable facilities to work from. They have faith that things will improve, and they take pride in being the person who helps make it better.
As the Fire Chief in town, what scares me most about a new fire station project is not the failure to get enough votes. What keeps me up at night is what happens in the days following any failed vote. Will all of our previously-mentioned-staff, those who can work elsewhere, lose hope and leave Lakeville, heading off to much greener pastures?