Swanzey Fire Department Opens New Fire Station #2 on Old Homestead Highway

The $3.96 million project was approved at town meeting in 2025 after six earlier attempts to secure funding had failed.

After years of debate, planning and repeated defeats at the ballot box, Swanzey has finished a new home for its firefighters. Fire Station #2 opened to the public Saturday, giving residents a first look at the building on Old Homestead Highway.

The $3.96 million project was approved at town meeting in 2025 after six earlier attempts to secure funding had failed. A special town committee helped push the proposal forward after the department spent years arguing that the old setup could no longer meet the town’s needs.

The former station operated out of the basement of town hall and had served since the 1960s. Department leaders said the building had become increasingly impractical, especially as fire vehicles grew larger and equipment needs expanded. In the old bays, space was so limited that simply getting trucks parked was difficult.

The new facility gives the department room that had long been missing. Vehicles now fit easily into the bays, and the building separates offices and meeting areas from the equipment and apparatus storage. It also leaves room for future expansion.

Health and safety upgrades were another major focus. The town hall location left crews dealing with vehicle exhaust in a confined area, and the new station includes exhaust extractors along with decontamination space designed to reduce exposure to contaminants brought back from emergency scenes on turnout gear.

Chief Eric Mattson said the extra room and added safety measures have made a major difference for the department. Saturday’s open house drew dozens of residents, who toured the building while firefighters and staff pointed out the changes.

In one administrative room, Capt. Andy Fisher assembled fire prevention kits for children and families as visitors moved through the station.

Before the vote in 2025, the department invited the public to tour the old station so residents could see the limitations for themselves. That outreach helped build support, and the measure passed by roughly 50 votes, clearing the three-fifths margin needed for approval.

Mattson marked the occasion alongside Swanzey selectboard Chair James Tempesta by cutting a pair of fire hose lengths outside the new bay doors. He said the day was a chance to recognize the community’s backing and expressed hope that the station will serve the town for decades.