Tappan’s New Fire Station – Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

The Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan’s Fire Station has stood watch over the hamlet for over 115 years. While the buildings’ historical architecture may be pleasing to the eye, it is unfortunately no longer safe or functional. A modern fire truck can barely squeeze into the space allocated, firefighters have no proper storage for their gear, and 15 people currently share one small office. This is all due to change thanks to a new fire station being built a few hundred feet away that will better serve Tappan’s brave volunteers. 

First and foremost, a larger fire station means more room for fire trucks. Only one fire truck can fit in the original station, while the new one will have the capability to fit two. It will also allow for firefighters to grab their gear, get ready swiftly, and access the vehicle from the rear instead of having to step in front of a fire truck. The new station will also provide new administrative offices, and some much needed breathing room for those doing the paperwork. At the present time, around 15 people share one small office space. This includes the Fire Association, the Fire Chief, the stations’ secretary and treasurer, the Assistant Chief, the Captain and the Fire District to name a few.

The extra space will also allow the members of Association to properly clean and store their gear, a safety procedure that has been challenging  in the current firehose.  Commissioner Raymond Slavin told the RCT that a lack of proper ventilation harms the team of firefighters, stating that “There are a lot of cancer causing carcinogens in fires now, so that material attaches to our gear…then we’re back in the firehouse and we have all this cancer causing carcinogens attached to our gear, so we have to make sure the rooms are vented properly”. 

Fire Commissioner Thomas J. Quinn Sr. continued, sharing how in the new firehouse firefighters will have the ability to properly wash, dry and store their gear in a fully ventilated room. The new air system consists of two air ducts – one carries fresh air in, while the other carries the carcinogenic chemicals out. 

With a budget of $ 6.8 million Tappan has been able to build a fire station that will be leaps and bounds ahead of its older brother down the street. Commissioner Slavin stated that the planning of the station took over two years, and construction has been underway for a year and a half. This kind of thoughtful planning helps to identify issues before things are set in stone, or in this case, concrete. Smaller issues facing the new facility, like the build up of frost and ice in front of the garage during winter months, can be addressed well in advance, in this case by installing a heated driveway and sidewalk. Those improvements will allow the department to be more responsive and  will also keep a few firefighters from the less than enviable position of shoveling snow on January mornings. 

Tappan’s leadership are hopeful that the new firehouse will help maintain the health and safety of current volunteers and attract new recruits as well. Many fire companies around the country are facing a lull in sign ups and the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan is no exception. One of the improvements they are installing to help quell this lull is an updated education and training room for volunteers. This will include features such as a SMART Board, monitors, and desks for classroom training, and added capacity to fit 50 people at once. Another draw for these new volunteers is modern equipment. The fire association will soon be receiving their first new fire truck in over 30 years. This truck, known as a “quint”, is both a pumper and a ladder engine. Commissioner Slavin referred to the new engine as “The Swiss Army knife of fire trucks”, while Commissioner Quinn shared that there has not been a ladder engine serving Tappan since the 1930s. This new quint fire truck is particularly important for the Tappan Fire District, as Commissioner Slavin shared how the area has “…an awful lot of one way streets, dead end streets, and cul-de-sacs”. These types of roads can create complications if an emergency requires both a pumper engine and a ladder engine. This new “Swiss Army knife” engine makes responding to emergencies simpler for all. To commemorate the occasion of the new quint fire engine, the Association will be hosting a traditional “wet down” on September 28th. This event is open to the public and will include food, drinks and live music. This fall they will also be receiving a new equipment truck, and a pumper truck will make its appearance in the spring of 2027.