Beacon unveils its new central fire station
The new City of Beacon central fire station at 1140 Wolcott Avenue at dusk
For a small Hudson Valley city, Beacon, NY has an unexpectedly rich and storied firefighting history. A walk from the west end of Main Street to East Main Street will reveal not one, but three historic (and quite beautiful) firehouses: Lewis Tompkins Hose, built in 1893 and now Hudson Beach Glass at 169 Main Street; W.H. Mase Hook & Ladder, built in 1911 at 425 Main Street; and Beacon Engine (1889) at 57 East Main Street. All three have played a key role in keeping the city safe for more than 130 years.
Now in 2024, under last weekend’s stunningly blue Hudson Valley skies, the City of Beacon unveiled its new central fire station at 1140 Wolcott Avenue. Around 300 residents turned out to attend the dedication ceremony and tour the facility.
Located at the “gateway” to Beacon opposite City Hall, the completely reconstructed and expanded fire station consolidated three fire stations (W.H. Mase Hook & Ladder, Beacon Engine, and Tompkins Hose Firehouse (previously on this site) into one central hub.
Beacon Engine at 57 East Main Street
Planning for the future
The city’s decades-long transition from three firehouses operated by volunteer companies to a central fire station with primarily career firefighters spanned four mayoral administrations going back to 2006. The twin challenges facing the city involved managing three aging firehouses and a steady decline in volunteer firefighters. Over the years, community leaders, volunteers, and career staff worked to create a future-forward plan to address these key issues. A central consolidated fire station emerged as the solution.
Three fire stations are now consolidated into one central hub
A state-of-the-art sustainable fire station
To substantially reduce costs, the decision was made to renovate the former Tompkins Hose Firehouse, constructed in 1982 which, along with new sales tax revenue from a renegotiated agreement with Dutchess County, allowed the all-electric station to include advanced firematics, geothermal heating and cooling, high-efficiency insulation, natural lighting, and electric vehicle charging stations in an improved public parking lot atop geothermal wells.
On-budget, on-time
Municipal projects in any city or town are not known for their efficiency. Beacon bucks the trend in this case. At the end of 2022, the city vacated Tompkins Hose Firehouse and broke ground for its replacement in June 2023. The facility was complete in less than two years at the end of October 2024, on-budget and on-time.
Costing $14.7 million, the 17,000 square foot facility is the largest capital project in the city’s history. This new architectural gem, with an all-brick façade, is a respectful nod to the fire houses that preceded it, and it’s designed to fit in with Beacon’s historic architecture.
During the Dedication, Beacon Fire Chief Thomas Lucchesi shared some enhanced features for the firefighters in terms of safety and morale, including ample living quarters with six dorm rooms, a fully outfitted physical fitness room, and advanced training spaces. He added: “With the increased risk of today’s firefighters of exposure to hazardous materials, the most important upgrade in the firehouse is the investment made in decontamination facilities.”
A place for everything in the new station
Mayor Lee Kyriacou ended his Dedication speech by citing an ongoing challenge the city—along with every small community nationwide— faces, which is to identify ways local communities can work together to fund more career firefighters as volunteer counts continue to shrink. “We have more to do, as always, but for today, let’s celebrate,” he concluded.
For fascinating stories and facts on Beacon’s firefighting history and all things Beacon, NY, see the Beacon Historical Society or visit them at 61 Leonard Street. Open Thursdays, 10AM to 12PM and Saturdays, 1PM to 3PM, or by appointment.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon 🧡