SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A fire station in Scranton is in desperate need of an upgrade, and efforts to modernize the station on East Mountain are moving forward.
The city is seeking a state grant to help with renovation.
Built in the 1960s, the Engine 10 Firehouse is starting to show its age union leaders and residents are stressing the importance of not only keeping Engine 10 in or near its current location but ensuring it meets the needs of modern firefighting
The Engine 10 Fire Station on East Mountain is undersized, outdated, and in dire need of upgrades
"The size of our apparatus is growing, each and every year the amount of tools we carry grows so firehouses need to adapt our engines have gotten bigger, and our vehicles have all gotten bigger due to all those things," said Allen Lucas the president of IAFF Local 60 Union.
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Lucas explains that a modern firehouse isn't just about convenience it's about safety. Firefighters need enough space to store and maintain equipment, prepare for emergency calls, and ensure quick response times
"Our gear is bigger and heavier so we also make sure we train and remain healthy so we need to be able to train and perform the duties that we need to while we're under training, and the size and location from this house from the 60s is outdated," explained Lucas.
With Engine 10 being the first to respond to East Mountain, Upper South Side, and Dutch Hollow, residents see how vital Engine 10 is to the steep terrain of the area
"That station should be maintained no matter what happens because of the public safety issue and just how important it is," added Lee Morgan from Scranton.
"Having a fire station in a high ground in a place to respond quickly is imperative," stated Tom Coin from Minooka.
In a meeting on Tuesday, all of the city council agrees and recognizes the importance of the station's location
"Any new construction for a new firehouse or replacement for Engine 10 happens either in the existing spot or in a close proximity of where it is now," noted Bill King from Scranton City Council.
"The location is key, all of our firehouses are located in strategic places for strategic reasons to be able to respond quickly," says Lucas.
Since there was no money allocated in Scranton's 2025 capital budget, the council agreed on Tuesday to introduce a resolution to seek a $350,000 state grant to begin the upgrades and design.
They will vote on amending and adopting it in next week's meeting.
