SACO — The current central fire station, located at Thornton Avenue, has outgrown the fire department’s needs, according to fire officials.

On Feb. 9, voters will decide whether the city should build a new fire station. A proposed bond would cover $6 million for the project plus $4 million of interest, to be paid off over 30 years.

The current fire station was built in 1938. Since then, industry standards have changed and apparatus has gotten bigger. A new fire station has been on the mind of fire officials for years, said Fire Chief Alden Murphy.

The most recently purchased fire engine has a 96-inch wide cab. The current industry standard is 100 inches, said Murphy.

“We’re buying trucks to fit the station,” said Murphy.

The arms of the side view mirrors have been altered so the mirrors hang closer to the sides of the vehicle, and brick work has been removed from the bay entrances. Still, the fire engine and rescue vehicles barely squeeze into the bays.

As a firefighter backs up into the garage, there isn’t much room to spare, and the alterations to the mirrors have decreased the field of vision.

In the winter, firefighters must make sure that snow is off the tires of ladder trucks, as it impacts the height of the trucks ”“ which sit just inches below the ceiling.

He said the station cannot consider items such as an automatic light tower on top, because there is no room.

“It limits the apparatus we can buy,” said Murphy. “We can’t put every advantage on trucks.”

As well, the station’s biohazard section is tucked back in the open garage, and should be in a separate room.

“We’ve got no more space,” said Deputy Fire Chief Ed Dube.

Aside from the space issues, the building has other problems. Water damage has impacted masonry and brick work and asbestos flooring has been patched with Bondo. The current building is not compliant for those with disabilities and does not have adequate bathroom facilities to accommodate a two gender workforce. Other issues include an antiquated plumbing system that is not code complaint and an inadequate electrical system.

Over the years, firefighters have donated time and raised funds for improvements, including refurbishing a gym and securing kitchen appliances.

However, the current location, said Murphy, requires firefighters to maneuver vehicles down narrow downtown streets to respond to calls.

“I think the time is right,” said Mayor Roland Michaud.  Interests rates are at an all time low, construction costs are down and there is revenue to do the project without increasing taxes.

The bond will be paid off by using rescue billing funds, which have increased steadily over the years, said Michaud.

The fund has been used to cover the cost of new fire equipment as well as a yearly transfer of $300,000 to the general fund.

Finance Director Beth Cote reiterated Michaud’s statement that the bond will not increase taxes. The fund was expected to generate about $600,000, this fiscal year, and as of the end of December, the fund had surpassed half that amount. She said with the increase of assisted living facilities and an increasingly older population, the ambulance fund will continue to grow.

Like Michaud, she said interest rates are at an all time low, and a built-in safeguard is that the city will be retiring two bonds. In 2011, the city will make the last payment of $235,000 on a school building bond, and in 2012 the city will make its last annual payment of about $116,000 on a school renovation bond.

Also, said Cote, the city may decide to sell the fire station property, which would bring in revenue, and the fire department does not have another scheduled apparatus purchase until 2014.

The station is inadequate to serve the needs of the fire station, said Michaud, reiterating concerns the fire chief has voiced.

The North Street property is a “logical location” said Michaud, and is wide enough so that people can pull over to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

The proposed building would be 21,660-square-feet, which would include a single-story 8,260-square-foot area for the apparatus bay and a 13,400-square-foot area for the administration and firefighter living quarters.

The suggested new building will have energy efficient features such as solar-powered hot water, natural light and geothermal heat.

The new space would have more room for training and the department could take advantage of an on site pond to conduct pump testing and ice drills.

Murphy said the department will be transferring equipment to the new building.

“Everything we can take with us is coming,” said Murphy.

Not all are in support, though. Councilor Arthur Tardif opposes the bond.

“I agree they need a little bit more room,” he said, but the city shouldn’t spend the money on the proposed fire station, given the fact that it just built a new train station, a windmill that doesn’t give off enough power as anticipated, and purchased an electric car that is not used, he said.

He said that he’s concerned if the city takes money each year out of the ambulance fund, it won’t have the money to help offset the budget in the future.

“Realistically, it’s not the right time to spend $10 million,” he said.

Tardif was a Saco police officer for about 30 years, and he said that he does not recall any major accidents of fire trucks getting out of the downtown.

He suggested the city put the money aside, and build a fund so it could build a station in the future without any interest.

City Clerk Lucette Pellerin said there needs to be at least 1,304 votes cast on Feb. 9. In order for the election to be valid, at least 20 percent of the votes cast in last fall’s election must be cast for the referendum.

Residents can request absentee ballots by calling the city clerk’s office at 284-4831, or they can download a ballot from the city’s Web site, www.sacomaine.org. Citizens can also vote in person at the City Clerk’s office at city hall.

The office will have the following extended hours:

-Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

-Thursday, Feb. 4, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

-Saturday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

As of the end of the day on Monday, there had been 831 returned absentee ballots, said Pellerin.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

*Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story appeared with incorrect figure. This version has been corrrected.