Lawrence Reopens Fire Station Shut In Budget Cuts

More than two years after budget cuts forced it to close, the Historic Fire Station No. 6 in Lawrence is going back into service.

Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua and fire department leaders are due to reopen the station Tuesday morning in the Prospect Hill neighborhood.

A $6.6 million federal Homeland Security grant last year provided funding to rehire or hire 38 firefighters and begin reopening three stations that were closed in the crunch.

Critics said the cuts left the fire department without enough manpower to protect the city, and strained smaller departments from nearby towns who were called on for mutual aid.

The mayor is also set to officially swear in Jack Bergeron as the city's fire chief on Tuesday, and hold promotion ceremonies for other officers.