The Township Council has unanimously endorsed the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company’s grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for the expansion and modernization of its firehouse on South MIll Road.
The grant program was introduced by FEMA as part of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus program to support the needs of fire companies and first responders. It is expected to award $210 million in total.
The resolution approved by council states that the fire company has not undergone an expansion of its facilities in more than 30 years, during which there has been significant growth in town. It also mentions that the fire company is a first responder to the Princeton Junction train station, the second busiest train station in the state.
Giving more weight to the grant application is the fact that the members of the fire company had already won approval in November, 2008, from the Planning Board for their addition plans for the firehouse, located on two lots totaling four acres on South Mill Road. The addition totals about 3,458 square feet and an adds a 910 square foot basement. The existing building is a one-story brick and masonry block building firehouse containing 8,550 square feet.
In existence since 1921, the members of the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 — a “100 percent volunteer organization” — built their own firehouse in 1950 and added onto it in 1969 and in 1974. But as time has progressed, the members of the company had increasingly outgrown their current facility.
The fire company is entirely self-supporting, aside from about $45,000 in funding it splits with the Princeton Junction Fire Company annually from the township.
In order to raise money, the fire company actually uses its firehouse as a banquet hall, and it has to remove the equipment from the building itself before parties are held there. The company charges a rent, which assists in a very small way to support its efforts on behalf of the township. Three pieces of equipment are stored in the fire company’s engine bay, while five are housed in the banquet hall.
According to plans for the addition — which would take place in the rear of the building — the existing member rooms at the fire house would be turned into office and storage space. A handicapped bathroom, as well as more member rooms and a small locker room would be added. The existing radio room would also be expanded to allow for a larger, U-shaped desk. The back of the building would see a 17-foot expansion to house the larger fire trucks. The siren would also be moved 50 to 60 feet toward the back of the property.
In November, 2008, officials estimated the project would cost in the $300,000 range.
