Shared firehouse brings relief, and trepidation

As two fire departments prepare to share the same roof, emotions are mixed.

There is gratitude from Malden and Revere administrators that the developers of a $1 billion project straddling both communities built the station at no cost to taxpayers. There is a sense of relief from Revere firefighters and residents that there is finally a fire station on the city's underserved west side.

But in Malden, they're just trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Developers Roseland Property Co. and Lennar Urban Northeast built the $2.5 million station as part of an agreement with both cities over the mixed-use development at the old Rowe Quarry site. When completed around 2012, the project will feature approximately 2,800 residential units, along with hotel, retail, and commercial components.

While there is no dispute on either side over the need to have a fire station within close proximity of a development that big, some Malden firefighters have expressed concern that because the station is technically in Revere, response times to other parts of Malden will be delayed.

"So Malden is going to be responding out of Revere," said Brian Parow, president of the Malden Fire Fighters Union Local 902. "We're trying to make the best of it that we can. There's issues of how we're going to respond if there's a call in Revere and a Revere engine is down. For Revere, it's an ideal situation because they've been trying to get a station in [that] end. For us it's not."

Malden's concerns are not lost on Revere firefighters, who also have questions.

"What would happen if Revere was activated to go to one call and another Revere call came from the same place. Would we send our second backup piece or Malden?" said James Caramello, president of the Revere Fire Fighters Association Local 926. "These are issues that need to be addressed. The majority of our calls are medical. I wouldn't have any apprehension picking up a Malden call that required a life support. We're talking about heart attacks, stuff where time is of the essence."

Caramello said these are issues that should have been settled prior to occupying the new station, and both cities are trying to schedule a joint meeting with the unions, Malden Mayor Richard Howard, Revere Mayor Thomas Ambrosino, and fire chiefs Michael Murphy of Malden and Eugene Doherty of Revere.

"We're sympathetic with Malden's arguments," Caramello said. "But I'm ecstatic that we finally have the protection we needed that was sorely overdue."

The building, located on Overlook Ridge Drive off of Salem Street, houses two firehouses divided by a wall, each side clearly labeled. Revere firefighters moved in on June 26, while Malden is scheduled to do so in about two weeks. Both Parow and Caramello have heard concerns from union members that this could be a catalyst for regionalization.

"This is maybe the first step toward regionalization," Parow said. "It's all brand-new and state of the art, which is great. Our concern is the location and how we're going to respond to calls in that area. There isn't another city or town in the Commonwealth that's had this done."

Caramello said that while he doesn't consider regionalization an issue in this instance, it "could definitely come up as a challenge here and it will be our job as a union to fight it. . . . The point is this: There are two separate entities, and other than exchanging pleasantries as we come and go, there's no sharing of the facilities."

Malden Deputy Fire Chief Tom Walsh said neither department will be tied into the other's alarm system, and that if they need each other's assistance, it would fall under mutual aid.

"I think the department is looking forward to having this station open," Walsh said. "There's a little apprehension because it's something new. Change is always hard."

Despite the concerns from firefighters, both cities should not be afraid of looking at the joint station as an example of the possibilities of inter-municipal collaboration, said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, which recently held a forum exploring the need for greater regionalization. As communities continue to grapple with budget cuts, the elimination of services, and a growing population, they should be open to change, he said, "just taking a look at collaborations and efforts to join together to deliver services to residents in the community."

"Communities are increasingly looking at sharing building inspectors, public health services, equipment," he added. "There are already several examples of regional schools in Massachusetts, regional transportation agencies, so there's a lot that already goes on and we believe that that trend will continue."

Jeffrey Nutting, town administrator in Franklin, where some regional collaborations are already in place, said that "the real problem" is getting communities to put down their barriers.

"We have every little town doing their own thing, but meanwhile, communities struggle," Nutting said. "We have separate water departments for the same river. . . . We need to give up some local control that is so institutionalized in Massachusetts.

"What would be so bad if it was one fire station?" he said. "They're all still firefighters. Maybe it's a good way to start."

But not without a fight.

"There's no disputing the fact that we're against regionalization," Caramello said. "Regionalization cuts jobs."

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.