SANFORD –– It’s been more than 10 years in the making, but on Tuesday officials, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), finally broke ground on the City of Sanford’s new Central Fire Station and EMS headquarters on Main Street.
“From the very beginning we committed to doing this the right way,” said City Manager Steven Buck. “Not quickly, but thoroughly, not based on assumption, but based on analysis, data and professional evaluation.”
The new $17.2 million station will serve as the central fire station for the city, replacing the other central station farther up Main Street. Fire Chief Scott Susi said the new station will have a lot more space for vehicles, equipment and personnel, and include a communications center.
Susi also emphasized the station’s modern design, which takes first responder health into account. The current headquarters was built 50 years ago, when no one realized there was a danger in chemicals and other contaminants getting attached to gear, clothing and skin, leading to long-term health risks for firefighters.
The new building, Susi said, will use “hot,” “warm” and “cold” zones, allowing firefighters to decontaminate themselves and their equipment upon returning from work in the field.
“By investing in this hot, warm and cold design, we’re insuring that even when our staff return from a call, they are coming back to a place that keeps them safe, healthy and ready for the next alarm,” Susi said.
The project is part of a reorganization of the department, which dates back to 10 years ago when Buck said the city began surveying both the central headquarters and the station in the city’s Springvale neighborhood.
“They are aging, functionally deficient, and no longer meet current codes, standards or best practices,” he said.
Voters approved a $42.5 million bond question to replace both stations in a November 2024 referendum.
Officials have also said the overall project calls for closing the south fire station near Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, which is largely used for storing equipment.
Collins said her office helped secure $5 million in additional federal funding to go toward the construction of both new stations. Collins called the move an expression of gratitude for first responders in Sanford.
“I know that our gratitude must go beyond just words,” she said. “It must be accompanied by the resources that help our firefighters and the EMS personnel carry out their crucial duties as effectively and safely as possible.”
City Spokesperson Megan Boisvert said that the $17.2 million cost for the new central fire station is more than $4 million cheaper than originally budgeted, due to the competitive bidding process for construction.
Tim Sommers, vice president of Benchmark Construction, the company building the station, estimated the project would take about 16 months to complete.