Fire Island Pines Fire District Firehouse Renovation Project

The years 2025 and 2026 mark a pivotal period for the Pines Fire District and Fire Department. In 2025, the Department experienced an unprecedented increase in volunteer recruitment, expanding its ranks by nearly 40%. In addition, the District engaged H2M architects and engineers to perform an evaluation of the facilities, develop a general understanding of the overall building conditions, and visually evaluate each of the major building systems and grade their general conditions. The District commissioners wanted to ensure that the facilities meet the needs of our volunteer department and provide decades of service for this new generation of firefighters.

This study completed by H2M found that while our structures have served their purpose, they are now operationally deficient and place our volunteer firefighters in potentially hazardous situations. The building is no longer code compliant (for example handicapped accessible), lacks a safe amount of apparatus to gear space (firefighters must don protective gear next to truck exhaust), and the current apparatus bay configuration requires drivers to make multiple turns to leave the property, increasing response time.  Additionally, the existing firehouse has several maintenance needs that must be addressed and will be performed as part of a proposed larger improvement project. 

The overall firehouse structure at 34 Fire Island Blvd. includes:

1. The original one-story building on the east side (built in the early 1960s)

2. A one-story addition on the west side (1972)

3. A central two-story building in the middle (1982)

At the March 2026 Commissioners’ meeting, the Board unanimously approved moving forward with a comprehensive renovation project with the following objectives:

1. Dismantle the original firehouse and construct a new two-story building (in approximately the same footprint) with apparatus bays on the first floor facing Fire Island Blvd and administrative offices above

2. Install an elevator and implement additional upgrades to ensure full ADA compliance to provide the public with full access to a taxpayer funded building

3. Reconfigure existing interior space to expand and improve firefighter gear storage areas

4. Replace aging siding and roofing systems that are nearing the end of their useful life

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The following document further explains how the District approached this project and the proposal for funding its completion. An information session on this project will be held on Friday, June 19th from 6PM to 7PM. All are welcome to attend.