By Cindy J. Roth
Plans for the new firehouse include reconstruction of the 1934 original building and the 1950s extension. Also in the plans is an expansion on the second floor of the 1994 building extension, which remains in place. The project is anticipated to take 18 months.
The blaze that destroyed the building early in the morning May 3, 2001 broke out in the second-story of the 1934 part of the firehouse, destroying most of the kitchen, meeting hall, office supplies, plaques and pictures. More than 100 firefighters from six departments were needed to bring the fire under control.
Bellmore Fire Department Commissioner Raymond Of said rebuilding the firehouse will bring the department into the 21st century technologically, while also creating more space needed for newer and larger fire apparatus. The second floor of the new building will house the various offices, a community room and a training room.
The training room will feature state-of-the-art technology, making Bellmore one of the most well equipped training departments in the county.
"We're going to solve problems people haven't thought of," said Of. "We're going to make this great. It's 1934 plumbing, and the electrical is always a problem. Now [the firehouse] will have enough power for 1,500 years. We won't have to worry about these problems anymore."
Fire district residents passed a $4.5-million bond to finance the additions and alterations to the firehouse back in October. The bond is likely to cost homeowners about an extra $38 a year in taxes for the next 20 years. However, department commissioners said they are already under budget and could lower homeowners' taxes in future years.
"We've done all our homework, and we're trying to do everything right and keep taxes down," said Of.
The district is still waiting for an insurance settlement that will help offset the bond. It is saving money by reusing workable parts of the old building, like the elevator, in the new building.
Clifford Seaman, the 20-year-old former Bellmore volunteer firefighter who pleaded guilty to arson in connection with the fire that ravaged the building, was also ordered to pay $516,739.70 in restitution to the department as part of his sentence. Department commissioners however doubt they will see that money.
