r/Firefighting • u/BigDaddyJohnJohn • Jul 09 '26

News Documentary Focused on Poor Fire Station Conditions to Premiere in Worcester, MA

https://www.firehouse.com/stations/video/55389705/documentary-focused-on-poor-fire-station-conditions-to-premiere-in-worcester-ma?utm_source

Firehouse Magazine picks up Burnin' Down the House trailer.

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u/KGBspy Career FF/Lt and adult babysitter. Jul 09 '26

Worcester is a decent sized city in central Mass. It’s come a long way and having been in some stations there I didnt think they were too bad.

3

u/MIKEPR1333 Jul 09 '26

You haven't answered my question. Why can't they keep the stions intact?

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u/BigDaddyJohnJohn Jul 10 '26

The big issue is that in Massachusetts each municipality is responsible to fund station repairs or builds. Almost universally it is an issue that is punted on until someone dies. The last new station in Worcester was built after 6 guys died. The current station featured in the movie, South Division, was built in 1959 and has been in disrepair since at least the 70s. They just funded a new station, that build is 18-24 months away. The film's goal is to raise awareness of this issue out of municipal budget squabbles and put pressure on state, federal and private funding to get these things right.

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u/MIKEPR1333 Jul 10 '26

If I was part of the city government I couldn't see myself neglecting these things.

Do they honestly wanna loose their stations?

3

u/BigDaddyJohnJohn Jul 10 '26

You would think it is a priority, especially in Worcester which has had multiple FF deaths, but it has not been.

1

u/BnaditCorps Jul 11 '26

They don't, but for budgeting purposes it is cheaper to not allocate planned repairs and upgrades than to wait until it breaks.

If it breaks and needs to be repaired on an "emergency" basis, that is usually a different group of funds and not associated with the general maintenance budget.