Fall River’s Central Fire Station Gets $2 Million Renovation Plan Completed, But Challenges Persist at Stanley Street and Beyond

FALL RIVER ─ Earlier this month, there was public outcry after the Fall
River Reporter showcased disturbing video inside the Central Fire Station on Bedford Street with its less than appetizing working and living conditions that include peeling ceiling paint that snows down on sleeping firefighters, asbestos and other seen and unseen deficiencies.

The good news for the Central Fire Station is that the city has completed plans for a $2 million renovation project on Tuesday, according to Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. The city will be going out for a request for proposals for the work that hopefully could be completed by the fall.

On Wednesday, Bacon gave the Fall River Reporter a tour the Stanley Street station, the city’s oldest working fire station, and another facility with issues.

Stanley Street was built at the turn of the 19^th century

It’s not hard to imagine walking into the bay area of Stanley Street station that, back in 1900 when it was built, was designed to house the horse drawn fire apparatus.  An adjoining empty field next to the station is where the horses were housed.

The bones of the Stanley Street station are good, and the condition inside the station better than those at the Central station, thanks to the firefighters themselves doing much of the interior upgrades, according to Fall River Firefighters union president Michael O’Reagan Jr.

O’Reagan has been the most recent vocal critic of the conditions inside the city’s six fire stations, and particularly the Central station.

There is a cozy kitchen with a large dining table for “family” meals for the firefighters on duty and a common area with comfortable leather couches donated recently by Brian Bishop of Bishop Electric.

Like the other stations, the city just installed so-called “mini splits” air conditioning units to replace less efficient window units.

But the 125-year-old fire station is not without its issues and impracticalities.

For one, some of the FRFD’s big rigs don’t fit through the bay doors even after the frames were widened.

Bacon shows exterior bricks in dire need of repointing and a temporary fix of the roof is failing as seen by ceiling panels damaged by water leaks.

Twice around 2018 and 2019, the station was shut down and the firefighters and equipment moved to two other fire stations while the city conducted mold abatement, likely due to the leaking roof.

Water was seeping through the stone basement walls, which was tended to but O’Reagan said rainwater still leaks through.

But a concerning deficiency, which plagues all but the newest station at 140 Commerce Drive built in 2002, is a lack of facilities for the department’s now two female firefighters.

There is only one bathroom and shower area in the already tight quarters of the fire station.

Bacon said the only fix to accommodate the women firefighters was the installation of a dead bolt on the door.

“We just don’t have the space here,” said Bacon.

The Chief has suggestions to fix the issue at Stanley Street

One idea Bacon said he had been to build a separate structure next to the more than a century old fire station.

“You turn this into dorms if you wanted to keep this building,” said Bacon.

Another idea Bacon has shared with the administration is to build a fire station and EMS complex at the large parking lot adjoining B.M.C. Durfee High School and selling the Stanley Street station.

“I explained it to the mayor. I think it’s a no brainer,” said Bacon and giving coverage to more northern end of the city and located to Charlton Memorial Hospital and other health care facilities located in the area.

“So, this station, when I look at it has a lot of major problems and I just don’t see it being worth the major investment it needs,” said Bacon.