The new Onset Fire Station, located at 8 Sand Pond Rd. behind the old Salvation Army, is nearly complete.

Project Manager Joe Sullivan said at the June 24 Prudential Committee meeting that the building would likely be deemed substantially complete — and fit for occupancy — as soon as Tuesday, June 29. 

That doesn’t mean the Fire Department will be moving in quite yet, though.

The station still needs to be connected to Comcast and Verizon for phone, internet and cable service. Radios need to be installed, as do computers.

The district also needs to work through some logistics relating to getting the building insured.

A company that installed antennas inadvertently damaged some of the outside paneling on the building. The district’s main insurance company doesn’t want to insure the building until those panels are replaced, which won’t happen for about five or six weeks, although the damage doesn’t threaten the structural integrity of the building and won’t let water in. The committee discussed several ways to get insurance coverage for the building in the meantime.

That damage also delayed the building’s substantial completion, previously slated for last week.

The Fire Department will not move into the new building for another six weeks or so. Prudential Committee member Karl Baptiste said it’s important to secure the old station after the department moves out, because it will otherwise become a de facto public parking lot.

Fire Chief Jeffrey Osswald said the district would lock the gate and could borrow jersey barriers from the town to block off the district’s property. ‘No trespass’ signs will be posted.

The space behind the Onset Village Market and in front of the Fire Department will stay open. Chairman Pam Pike said the district has a “gentlemen’s agreement” with that property owner, allowing the businesses in the building to use that space for parking and delivery trucks.