WARWICK — The Warwick Fire Department is taking the next step toward a finished station, starting construction on the building’s addition Sunday.
According to Warwick Fire Chief Ron Gates, the department began construction of the new station on Orange Road last March, hoping to expand from its much smaller station at Hastings Pond Road. Now, with the main building complete, the Warwick Firemen’s Association has set its sights on fundraising for the 24-by-78-foot addition.
Construction got underway when Don Matthews Excavating donated time and equipment to excavate the foundation on Sunday.
“We try to give ’em something toward the fuel, ’cause it costs a lot to run the big excavator, but they never ask for anything, they just do it for us,” Gates said. “They do a tremendous amount of volunteer work. They helped with the first part of the station, the first dry hydrant that we put in and now they’re donating their time for the addition.”
Gates said Valley Concrete will lay the foundation next, and later, lay the slab floor. Still, fundraising for the addition continues, Gates said, with the Warwick Firemen’s Association needing about another $40,000 for materials. The association has done all its own fundraising for the material costs of the station’s construction.
“We’re definitely hoping that it’s going to be finished before winter,” Gates said of the addition, “but if we can at least get the walls and roof on, that way we can still work on the inside through the winter.”
Once complete, the addition will house office space, a training room, a kitchen area and a communications room for the department’s radios.
The association’s next fundraiser, its annual chicken barbeque, will be held on July 15. Those wishing to donate to the cause can do so by visiting the Warwick Firemen’s Association’s GoFundMe page at bit.ly/2q44GKq.
You can reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257