City officials are "back to the drawing board" after an independent engineering report recommended the demolition of the controversial fire station. Despite the uncertainty, fire officials remain optimistic that the building will eventually be operational.
"We need new technologies and advancements as the fire department changes and as the city develops," said Captain Stephen Shakeshaft of the Fayetteville Fire Department.
Efforts to build a new Fire Station Four on Bragg Boulevard, which was set to replace the city's second-oldest fire station still in use, are ongoing. The project was approved in 2022 with a $9.4 million budget and designed to be a modern facility with features aimed at protecting firefighters from cancer risks.
But by late 2024, the city filed a lawsuit against contractor W.B. Brawley, alleging the company did not build the facility to standard. W.B. Brawley responded to the lawsuit, denying responsibility for the defects. During a recent city council meeting, an engineer with Applied Building Sciences, hired by the city, stated, "It is ABS's opinion that the concrete slabs are not constructed in accordance with industry standards."
Last week, the city council voted to accept the latest inspection report, which found that demolition was the only viable path forward.
Fire officials stressed that the planned upgrades are vital for retaining staff and ensuring the safety of every first responder.
"The current Station Four is not equipped for our cancer prevention efforts in order to keep our folks safe in the long term. It's not equipped for a diverse workforce. There's only one restroom. There's lots of things that we need to upgrade in a building this old. But the building is still operational, and you are protected within the city limits from backup," Shakeshaft said.
He also emphasized the importance of new facilities.
"All of our new stations are being equipped with industrial gear, extractors, which clean the carcinogens out of our gear so we don't have to wash our gear in a residential washer and dryer where we also wash our T-shirts and our underwear," he said.
As for what comes next, the city will continue gathering necessary information to assess demolition and rebuilding costs. If mediation talks fail, all parties will have up to one year to refile their claims.
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