Will fire station lights be on when I need help?

I’ve lived in Boston Harbor for 45 years. My husband was a Fire Commissioner in the mid 1990s and was involved in the planning of the existing North Olympia Fire District. The big push for a new facility was to house the firefighters and other personnel in order to provide better response times, etc.

I’m sad to see this great facility stand empty so much of the time, and that much of the facility is not being used or manned in the manner in which it was intended. This has always been a bustling station with rarely room to park a car. But lately, since the merger with South Bay, it appears that it’s now just a “meeting facility.” Get another clubhouse and bring back the firefighters and EMTs!

Rarely do I hear the alarm or sirens as the trucks whisk off to a call. Several times I’ve wanted to stop and get a blood pressure check, or inquire about a burn permit, but it’s locked.

I’m disappointed because I believed that the merger would enhance our service and coverage in the Harbor – when, in fact, it’s just the opposite. I fail to see how the Boston Harbor community has benefited.

I’m advocating for someone young and energetic such as Fire District candidate Terry McDaniel to make a difference and bring our station back to life. He comes from a solid community with great interest and the energy and ability to tackle the issues at hand.

This story was originally published October 24, 2017 at 2:09 PM with the headline "Will fire station lights be on when I need help?."