Firehouse work should be done by end of summer

SALISBURY — Bob Riva showed a visitor around the soon-to-be-completed firehouse last week, pointing out some of the features that will make the Lakeville Hose Company’s new home efficient — things such as the copper water pipes in the main truck bay. The trucks can fill up with water from the pipes, rather than using hydrants or ponds.

Drains in the floor of the bay lead out to a 1,000-gallon wastewater storage tank under the concrete apron on the back of the building. The equipment can be hosed down and the water (plus any contaminants) pumped out for treatment later.

There are 48 solar panels on the roof that will allow the fire department to sell electricity back to Connecticut Light and Power.

The inside of the building (which used to be the ITW factory) has been turned into offices, storage and work rooms.

Brick facing is on most of the front of the firehouse. Sheetrocking and pouring the two concrete aprons is coming up this week.

And the town just received a grant to fix up the upstairs space (facing Route 44) for either a retail or office renter.

First Selectman Curtis Rand said Monday that the grant — $200,000 — was obtained after having two state grants for the firehouse proper turned down.

Rand said he reapplied this past winter, this time for the purpose of making whatever space was not going to be used for the fire department suitable for a commercial rental.

Riva, a selectman and a member of the Firehouse Building Committee, was optimistic that the new firehouse would be ready in August.

“We’re about on schedule,� he said, “and the weather has mostly been good.�