Sandwich Fire Stations 2017

SANDWICH
PUBLIC SAFETY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
FIRE STATIONS 2 & 3
Updated November 4, 2019

SANDWICH POLICE & FIRE STATIONS PROJECTS

     Sandwich has three fire stations. Station 1 (Headquarters) was built around 1950 on Route 6A in Sandwich center. The station was added onto in the 1970s and has been cramped for years.

    The East Sandwich Fire Station (Station 2) was built in the early 1970s on Route 6A as a call fire station with room for 3 apparatus and with very minimal facilities. Not meant for on duty personnel.

     The Forestdale Fire Station (Station 3) was built about the same time as the East Sandwich station. It was built on Route 130 and was slightly larger than Station 2, having an additional rear side bay essentially able to house 4 apparatus. While it too was originally built as an unstaffed call station, firefighters made some renovations in the early 1990s to make it livable for 3 personnel. That part of town has seen the most growth over the years and has become very busy for the fir e rescue department.

     The town's Police station, on Route 6A next to fire headquarters was also built back in 1972 and also has been outgrown by the department.

     For many years the town has recognized the need to do "something" about the police and fire facilities in town, but continued to put it off for years. In 2013, a proposal for a brand new Police and Fire Headquarters to be built at Quaker Meeting House Road & Cotuit Road in Forestdale was presented. As part of the plan, a fire sub station was to be built near the High School on the Route 6A end of Quaker Meeting House Road. This would have resulted in going from 3 stations to 2 new stations, and selling off the old stations. It was an expensive plan and failed at the town meeting ballot.

     The town went back to the drawing board and in 2016 presented a modest plan for an addition and renovation to be done at the East Sandwich Station 2 and a fire sub station to be built in Forestdale as part of a new Police Station on the property at Quaker Meeting House & Cotuit Road. The current fire headquarters would be maintained so that the town would be covered by 3 staffed stations. The plan passed and was funded getting approval of voters on May 5, 2016.The project is estimated at $15 Million.

    Work began in East Sandwich in September 2017 with that station being closed while work is done. The site was prepared behind the station for an addition with living space and facilities. The old station itself will also get a major facelift bringing it up to standards. Plans are to move into that station in the winter or spring of 2018. Staffing has already been hired and trained to be able to fully open the station for operations.

The East Sandwich Fire Station 2 was completed and occupied on June 3, 2018. Three personnel are assigned per shift staffing Engine 2 (452), Breaker 2 (462), and Ambulance 2. A car is also assigned to the station.

Work also began at Quaker Meeting House Road & Quaker Road in September 2017 with a large area being cleared and prepared for two structures to be built, including the police station and new Station 3.

The new Forestdale Fire Station 3 and the new Sandwich Police Station began to rise in the Spring of 2018. After a number of challenges and changes, the Fire station plan was modified to include "Headquarters" offices, as well as the originally planned space. This made it possible for the Fire Chief, Deputy, Fire Prevention, and EMS officers to have appropriate space within the new station.

The new Police Station was the first to be completed and occupied in the Summer of 2019. The modern facility includes the Public Safety Communications Center for both Police and Fire/EMS.

The new "Fire Headquarters" at Station 3 was occupied by crews at the end of August 2019. The old Station 3 on Route 130 was closed (although still retained for some storage, at least initially) and apparatus was reassigned. The Shift Commander was moved from downtown Station 1 to Station 3. Apparatus changes, including a Quint Ladder on order, will be assigned once all are delivered and in service.

A dedication ceremony for both the new Police Station and Station 3 was held at both stations on September 27, 2019.

SANDWICH VOTERS APPROVED STATIONS
Sandwich has needed to upgrade its emergency services facilities for decades.
The police station and 3 fire stations are all inadequate having been built in
the 1970s. A proposal to build a new Police and Fire Headquarters station
and build a new fire sub station was rejected in 2013.

The town went back to the drawing board.
On May 2, 2016 voters approved funding to move forward with a new Police
Station at Cotuit Road & Quaker Meetinghouse Road.

They also approved building a new fire station on that site to replace the
1970s Forestdale Fire Station 3 which is currently on Route 130.

While no funds were approved for headquarters on Route 6A downtown,
funding was approved to make the East Sandwich Fire Station 2 ready
for staffing. It was built in the early 1970s as essentially a garage with
no living quarters of facilities for staffing.

STATION 3
The Fire Sub Station being built in Forestdale at Quaker Meetinghouse Road & Cotuit Road.
Architect's drawing.

The Sandwich FD held an Open House at the new Sandwich Station 3 in Forestdale
on October 26, 2019.

Sandwich Fire Headquarters Station 3
The new Forestdale Fire Station was opened in September 2019.
The dedication ceremony was held on September 27, 2019.

Fire Chief John "JJ" Burke prepares to cut the red ribbon
with three of his predecessors at the new Sandwich Station 3.

The apparatus floor is two bays, double deep, with a single bay for a command vehicle

SANDWICH FIRE STATION 3
The new Sandwich "sub station" is located across the driveway from the police station
at 251 Cotuit Road, Forestdale. The 2-1/2 bay, drive thru, steel building will also house
the headquarters administrative offices of the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Inspector,
and EMS Officer, in addition to the shift commander and crew.

The station is expected to be in operation by the end of August 2019.
The plan calls for the new Quint (on order), the Squad 4 engine, a forestry unit,
an ambulance, and the shift command car to be assigned to this station.
Photos August 5, 2019

The southwest corner of the station. The ambulance is expected to run out of this side.

The future Sandwich Station 3 in Forestdale
Will house headquarters offices when opened
January 15, 2019

Sandwich Station 3 Construction
to the right of the new Sandwich Police Station under construction.
October 25, 2018

Sandwich Station 3 Construction
to the right of the new Sandwich Police Station under construction.
September 18, 2018

Photos September 8, 2017
Cotuit Road & Quaker Meetinghouse
Future Station 3 / Fire & Police HQ

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EAST SANDWICH STATION 2

STATION 2 OPEN

UPDATE: Photos Nov 7, 2018

East Sandwich Station 2
Renovated, opened and staffed
Engine 452 (E-2) - Breaker 462 (B-2) - Ambulance 458 (A-2)
June 3, 2018

The future police and fire sub station site at Quaker Meeting House Rd
and Cotuit Road in Forestdale.

The town went back to the drawing board.
On May 2, 2016 voters approved funding to move forward with a new Police
Station at Cotuit Road & Quaker Meetinghouse Road.

They also approved building a new fire station on that site to replace the
1970s Forestdale Fire Station 3 which is currently on Route 130.

Forestdale Station 3 to be replaced by a new station at Cotuit Road &
Quaker Meetinghouse Road with a new Police station. The station was
first staffed in 1993 as that section of town has grown considerably.

The combination Fire and Police Headquarters originally proposed in
2013 which was rejected at the time.