Newcastle Working To Get New Firehouse

NEWCASTLE (CBS13) - The firefighters can't sleep in the station building because it's condemned. They're ready to make the move from the trailers to a brand new firehouse.

"Its kind of demeaning to be honest with you to go from the station to sleeping in a travel trailer," said firefighter Greg Kirk.

But now, they'll get a new fire station, thanks to the community they serve. Wednesday is one of the first fire district meetings to discuss the new building, after voters passed a measure to increase their property taxes to help pay for the cost.

"We want to get their questions about what happens now and what are the details and particulars of parcel tax," said supporter Michael Leydon.

But, they must still decide where to build the more than $2 million fire station.

"I just want to see a fire station where they can have the firemen live in it and it serves our entire community," said supporter Kathleen Devitt.

Yet, some feel the million dollar price tag of the building is excessive, and they'd rather the fire district use an increase in property taxes to hire more firefighters.

"I'm upset because its costing, they are putting too much money into a building and we are getting no extra fire protection," said Susie Brown.

But for a firefighter like Kirk, it's a move he's waited years for.

"We can't wait," said Kirk.

And, the fire district hopes to break ground on this project in the next 10 months, with the new station up and running by the end of 2013.