LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Westwood Needs a Modern, Safe, ADA Compliant Fire Station

To the Editor,

Westwood urgently needs a modern, safe, and ADA-compliant Fire Station. This isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity to ensure our first responders can continue saving lives and protecting our community.

The Fire Department operates 24/7 and responded to over 4,000 calls last year, including cardiac arrests, car accidents, fires, and medical emergencies. They even delivered a baby at Station 2. Any one of us could need their help at any time.

A 15-member working group, including six firefighters, thoughtfully designed this $38.1 million facility to meet operational needs and future demands. Every firefighter had input in the process, ensuring a station built by experts for real-world emergencies.

The cost is justified. Delaying will only increase expenses and compromise safety. The new design includes decontamination zones to reduce cancer risks—firefighters face a 14% higher chance of dying from cancer than the general population. We understand this investment will result in a tax increase, however, building the fire station is a fiscally responsible step to ensure our community continues to receive the high quality public safety it deserves now and into the future.

The design also includes training facilities that are essential. Firefighters need to be close to their gear during drills, and the building must support realistic training like ladder operations, which are among the most dangerous tasks.

Additionally, the five-bay design ensures quick response access from High Street, with no excess space—only what’s required by code and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Learn more at:
Fire Station 1 Project Page (https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/our-town/town-improvement-projects/fire-station-1-project)

Support those who support us. Join us at Town Meeting on Monday, May 19 at 6:30 PM at the Westwood High School gymnasium and vote “Yes” again in the special election on June 3. Your vote matters—for our safety and theirs.

Sincerely,
Chuck Bean, Bill Bruce, Lori Briggs DeAngelis, Elaine deReyna, Al Fusco, Fran Fusco, Sara Parr Gill, Craig James, Nancy James, Alyssa Herman-Kaitz, Leslie Warner Maloney, Paula McLaughlin, Annie Lewis O’Connor, Mandy Taft Pearman, Erica Shom, Eileen Siegel

Thanks to Paula McLaughlin and the above named community members for contributing these comments to Westwood Minute.

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