Newport Avenue Fire Station 6 will be shut down for major renovation work in late November, and personnel will be shifted to Columbus Avenue Station 3 as that work is completed.
Mayor Donald Grebien said a new leadership team at Station 6 questioned working conditions at the station, including problems with asbestos and lead paint. Air quality testing was done, he said, and no issues found, but officials have since decided to address the contaminated paint and asbestos flooring anyway.
Officials would have been fine coating the floor to seal in the asbestos, said Grebien, but decided to move forward with more intensive upgrades. All of the electrical systems in the building will also be upgraded, he said.
Though officials determined that “no one is in jeopardy” at Station 6, said Grebien, they felt like now is a good time to address the many updates needed.
Grebien said the Newport Avenue station is like many other city buildings that have suffered from a lack of serious investment over the years. He said there is now a concerted effort to put money back into those facilities.