Medford Begins Fire Station Upgrades, Examines Long-Term Needs

MEDFORD, MA — The city has begun repairing its six fire stations based on recommendations from the mayor's Task Force on Fire Department Facilities. The Task Force, convened in October 2020, assessed the fire department's current needs and proposed long-term strategies such as a feasibility study for the renovation or relocation of the department headquarters.

The mayor's administration hired a consultant to internally begin the procurement process to address more urgent needs. Some work has already begun as of March:

• Roof repairs and preventive roof/leak maintenance at multiple stations, ranging in scope. Some repairs may be eligible for Community Development Block Grants, Community Preservation Act funding or grant funding.
• Window replacement at several stations.
• Structural evaluation at Engine 3.
• Review of longer-term needs, including the possibility of an updated feasibility study for renovation or rebuilding of headquarters.
• Electrical needs, hot water heaters, overhead door repairs, lighting, heating, and mold testing.
• Renovation of two kitchens.

"I am so grateful to the members of the Task Force for all the work they have done over the last
six months to help guide the city's next steps for completing necessary upgrades at all of our fire
stations," Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. "It was important to me to have the input and experience from both active Medford Fire Department personnel, as well as others with knowledge of the industry and building standards so that we can appropriately prioritize the scope of the work that needs to be done. Our fire department works hard to keep our community safe, and we need to ensure they have the proper facilities to meet their needs."

Though the Task Force was charged with identifying possible options for relocating the facilities, the report cites each of the current station locations as best suited to meet the needs of the community, noting the department's response time during emergency calls.

Among the long-term recommendations is a feasibility study for the renovation or rebuilding of the fire headquarters. Lungo-Koehn's administration is currently reviewing a 2013 feasibility study and will work with the fire department to prepare for an updated study as necessary.

"I want to thank the Mayor for her leadership and for making this one of her administration's top priorities," Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti said in a statement. "I also would like to thank the members of the Task Force for their hard work and dedication throughout the process. This is a huge step forward to improve the conditions of our fire stations and the health and safety of our firefighters."

Following the repairs to roofs and windows, the city will conduct additional review of recommendations from the Task Force report. View the full report and recommendations below: