Spring 2014 could bring the start of a new $7 million firehouse for the Long Hill Fire Station No. 2, near Islandbrook Park.
The new facility will be built next to the current current firehouse near Wilmot Avenue and Main Street, said John Mellardo, commissioner of the Long Hill Fire District.
The station was built in the 1930s and cannot handle modern-sized equipment, Mellardo said.
"It will be a 17,000-plus square foot modern and efficient emergency services facility," he said.
The new building will have dormitories and bathrooms for both male and female firefighters, a large day (TV room) room, modern kitchen, three full length apparatus bays, meeting room/training classroom, offices for the fire department officers and offices for the fire district personnel (administrator, treasurer and tax collector) as well as a conference room, Mellardo said.
"It will also be energy efficient. We plan to utilize as much natural light as possible inside during the daytime hours and efficient low energy light fixtures during the evening/nighttime hours when needed both inside and outside.
"We are also considering the use of solar to also help save energy but we are still in the planning stages so the final specifications are not yet complete," he added.
"The plan is to keep the current station operational while construction is taking place. When the new facility gets to a point where we can move the apparatus into it we will do so then demolish the old firehouse," Mellardo said.
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