THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 17, 2020 Page 7 ASKS | from page 6 fire station? A: We do. We have adequate staff. I think we are in the process now of hiring five or six, which is going to increase it even more, so yes, again, like I said, the manager has done a great job in putting bodies in the station and manning our pieces correctly. We’re having fires that you’re not hearing about. And I’ll tell you why, because on the first alarm, we are getting to these fires quickly and knocking them down. And, it’s amazing. Just before Christmas, we had a fire, and when I came outside, we had guys outside. Back in the old days, you’d come outside and there was nobody there; you were waiting for mutual aid to come. We’re doing a good job. We got great staffing right now, but it’s got to get better. We need to deploy a third station. Q: Just to go back in time – what was the holdup the last time? So many years have passed, but you had the property. You had a vacant house. Funds were appropriated. A: Back about the time when NOTHING HAS CHANGED: In an interview for “The Advocate Asks” about three years ago, Saugus Fire Lt. William E. Cross III championed what he considers an urgent need for the town to build a third fire station to cover the west side of town. “Well, it just comes down to this: For every minute that you don’t get water on a fire … For every minute that you don’t start CPR on a person … It’s the difference between life and death, really,” Cross told The Saugus Advocate in a March 2017 interview. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) Mitt Romney was running for governor, we had three questions. The first one, for the station; the second one was to buy a ladder truck. And then what happened, the other question was on the back side of the ballot – and it only missed, I think it was by 80 votes – to have the men to man it. And that’s where it kind of died – right there. Retired Chief [James] Blanchard pushed it to try to get the old Target Building. It would have been a great spot to put the station. But since then it’s been put on the back burner. It came back up when we were going for the ambulance – when we were trying to go for a firebased ambulance. The manager said that before we did that, we really needed a third fire station. We backed off because he said he was going to do that, but since then it’s been quiet again. Q: So, do you anticipate discussion about this at the Annual Town Meeting this year? A: I do. I know there are people who just got elected who are hot to trot for it. I am definitely on board for it. Again, anyone who campaigned that last election … they’ll tell you when they ask people what they think the town needs the most, a lot of people will say the third fire station was at the top of the list. Again, just do “the eye test.” Drive around town and you will see that it’s hard to get around, especially to get to the other side of town; you can’t get to the other side of town; the traffic is crazy. It’s absolutely crazy all of the time. It’s tough when school is letting out. They’re building new buildings. It’s tough everywhere. Q: So, what do you think the consultant’s report would reveal? A: I think the consultant’s report is going to support a third station for sure. It’s going to support a station on the west side. And it may even talk about ASKS | SEE PAGE 11 Lash Extensions Mega Hair Elite $20 OFF NEW CLIENTS Natural Classic Full Sets Only $60 Hybrid Full Sets Only $80 454 F 617-389-1900 www WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
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