Leaky roof closes Frenchtown Road Fire Station

January 19, 2002

1.17.2002 08:03

Leaky roof closes 1 of town's 2 fire stations

By C. EUGENE EMERY JR.

Journal Staff Writer

EAST GREENWICH -- The fire station on Frenchtown Road, which serves the

southwestern half of town, has been shut down since Saturday because a leaky

roof over the living quarters has made it uninhabitable.

As a result, all of the station's firefighters and main apparatus have been

moved to the district's only other station, on Main Street.

Fire Chief J. Rowan said yesterday he was trying to find temporary

accommodations for the Frenchtown Road firefighters.

" Hopefully, it will be a temporary thing, " said Rowan, acknowledging that

" unfortunately " it will increase the response time for fire and rescue

services in the station's coverage area.

The roof has not be replaced since the station was built 30 years ago. The

fire district's commissioners last month awarded a $16,100 contract for roof

repairs, but bad weather has delayed the project, the chief said.

" It's been leaking for quite some time, but it just really got bad in the

last three weeks, " the chief said.

Over the weekend, a buildup of slushy rain and snow on the roof suddenly

made the situation far worse.

" There were at least 10 buckets all over the living quarters of the station "

collecting water, Rowan said. " The ceiling tiles were pretty soaked and

began to break up and collapse. Mildew and mold got so bad in the ceiling

that some people had to go to their physicians for allergy shots. "

As a result, Rowan made the decision to move everyone out of the station and

into the Main Street facility.

A sign on the door of the Frenchtown Road station advises people who need

help to call 911 or pull the fire alarm box.

" We're working to get a temporary house trailer or mobile home or living

quarters to restaff that station as soon as possible, " he said.

The contractor, Kelaghan's Roofing Co., Pawtucket, tried to make some

temporary repairs, he said, but it wasn't enough.

" We may have to tell them to rip it right off, " Rowan said. As for when work

will begin, he said, " we'll be at the mercy of the weather. "

Rowan, who retired as chief from Warwick to take the East Greenwich job,

said flat tar-and-gravel roofs can " leak like a sieve eventually. "

Gene Emery can be contacted at 277-7361 or by e-mail at gemery # projo.com.

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