Nearly 200 people streamed into a public forum Tuesday night at Falmouth Public High School, where town officials explained their decision to shut down the West Falmouth fire station and offered a window into the future of fire protection for the town.
Officials said closing the 90-year-old station is necessary because the West Falmouth Fire station is limited by out-of-date equipment and staffed with only one first responder given current resources.
As of July 1 no fire equipment can be sent out on a call when there are fewer than two firefighters, paramedics, or EMTs on board, according to a newly negotiated contract between the Falmouth firefighters’ union and the town.
“[This plan] eliminates the single-person firefighter responses [which are] incredibly unsafe, incredibly dangerous, and that’s a huge step forward for the town,” said Falmouth Fire Chief, Michael Small.