Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Onset Fire Station on Sand Pond Road on Wednesday afternoon, March 11. 

“It’s nice to see it coming to fruition,” said Onset Fire Chief Raymond Goodwin.

According to Goodwin, the new facility will offer several advantages to his firefighters. At 24,000 square feet, it will be able to house all of the department’s equipment, some of which is currently stored outside due to the small size of the current fire station on Central Avenue. 

The new fire station will also have a washing facility to clean protective clothing, as well as a separate living space for firefighters. 

Deputy Jeffrey Oswald said that after a long planning process “it’s heartwarming to see it finally happen.” 

The Onset Fire District Firehouse Building Committee was formed in May of 2015 to spread awareness for the need of the new station. The original plan for the new facility would have cost an estimated $13.9 million, but plans were downsized to an $8 million facility in 2017. Although the official “groundbreaking” ceremony was on March 11, much of the foundation had already been poured at that point.

Massachusetts Representative Susan Williams-Gifford attended the groundbreaking ceremony on March 11, and said that “it’s always exciting when the community comes together for a project such as this.” 

Marcine Fernandes, of the Prudential Committee, was one of the first people to dig a shovel into the ground at the ceremony. She said that one benefit of the new facility is that it will have a small meeting space, which can serve as a training room for firefighters. 

Former Prudential Committee member Wina Dean described the new facility as a “beautiful addition to the Onset Community.” 

Goodwin said that he hopes the new facility will be completed by April of 2021. It is unclear what will happen to the current fire station, once the new facility becomes operational.