Hatfield considers closing North Fire Station

HATFIELD — Closing the one-bay North Fire Station is being considered by town officials, even though doing so could impact the Council on Aging’s use of vehicle storage space at the main public safety complex.

Fire Chief Robert Flaherty told the Select Board this week that while shutting down the small site rented from Nourse Farms would save $1,200, the main issue for the department is that the North Fire Station is out of the way for firefighters who live closer to Hatfield center.

“It really came down to mostly a logistical concern for the department,” Flaherty said.

But should the town close the North site, where the department keeps either an engine or a brush truck throughout the year and the turnout gear for one firefighter, consolidation would be necessary at the 59 Main St. site

For members of the Select Board, this could be an opportunity for putting to use a metal building that went up at the Department of Public Works yard on Elm Court in 2022.

That building has remained unused, but with more investment could be a suitable place for storing vehicles.

Select Board member Luke Longstreeth said with a concrete floor poured, two of the three bays could be used by the Council on Aging, while a third garage could be reserved for another department for vehicle storage.

At Town Meeting last spring, voters rejected spending $140,000 to put in concrete floors and insulation in the metal building to make it suitable for vehicle storage, and to have the town mechanic work from the site.

Shawn Robinson, who chairs the Council on Aging board, said there are concerns about losing the proximity of storing the vans next to Memorial Town Hall, with the Senior Center operating from a renovated basement. Robinson said the Elm Court site would need to have the dirt floors replaced and electric overhead doors installed.

The discussion on the possible changes came as the Select Board begins budget discussions with department heads, learning from Flaherty and Town Administrator Andrew Levine that the town will be assessed a fee for all mutual aid ambulance calls.

A Feb. 11 letter from South County EMS Fire Chief Joshua Sparks states that starting July 1, there will be a $350 per call assessment any time its ambulance is called or responds to Hatfield.

As the primary mutual aid provider, South County EMS, based in South Deerfield, has already been to Hatfield 94 times in the first half of fiscal year 2026, meaning that the town would absorb a $65,800 cost for the full year.

“That is definitely something that is going to be happening July 1. We’ll have to fund that,” Flaherty said.

Hatfield officials plan to have a meeting with South County EMS at some point.

Hatfield has 10 paramedics on staff but isn’t always able to get an ambulance to respond. Flaherty said it would cost around $480,000 to go to a full-time, around-the-clock model, but this was rejected by voters last year.

The town also doesn’t collect any insurance payments or other receipts when South County EMS responds.

South County EMS was contracted to serve the town when the private Pioneer Valley EMS was taking an average of 22 minutes to get to town and some Basic Level Service was being offered when Advanced Life Service was required.

Flaherty said Northampton Fire Chief Andy Pelis has also informed the town that Northampton won’t take on Hatfield as primary mutual aid, observing that they are struggling to handle calls in their city.

“They do not want to be the first mutual aid call,” Flaherty said.

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