By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Bay City Commission voted 7-1 on July 20 to move forward with planning and development of a long-term solution for Fire Station 2 at 1000 Fremont Avenue, citing significant PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination from leaking firefighting foam containers.
- The 1956-built fire station property became contaminated in March 2020 when numerous firefighting foam containers stored in a five-story fire training tower leaked; the tower was demolished one month later, but underground contamination persists between 2-8 feet below ground level.
- Fire Station 2 responds to approximately 2,000 incidents annually with an average response time of 3.31 minutes; fire officials contend the station cannot be adequately replaced by Station 1 due to geographic coverage requirements for the south-end response area.
- The city has secured nearly $1 million in federal grant funding for demolition of the existing facility and PFAS remediation work, but construction funding for a replacement station at the preferred Water Street location (estimated at $9 million) must come from local sources and additional grants.
- The commission voted despite disagreement from one commissioner who questioned the necessity of demolition and others concerned about the project’s cost, with officials outlining bonding scenarios projecting annual payments of $350,000-$400,000 for the federal-funded work and $700,000-$800,000 if issuing approximately $10 million in bonds for construction.
BAY CITY, MICH. — Bay City Commission voted July 20 to advance planning for replacement of Fire Station 2 following determination that significant PFAS contamination at the current facility location poses health concerns for firefighting personnel working at the site.
Fire Chief Kurt Corradi and Public Safety Director Caleb Rowell presented to commission members outlining the operational necessity and environmental basis for station relocation. The current station at 1000 Fremont Avenue, constructed in 1956, operates from a property contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances stemming from historical firefighting foam storage and use.
In March 2020, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy received notification that numerous firefighting foam containers stored in a five-story fire training tower located on the southern portion of the station’s parking lot had leaked. The fire training tower was demolished in April 2020; however, the contamination persists in groundwater and soil between 2 and 8 feet below the surface. Contamination also affects portions of neighboring storm sewer infrastructure.
Corradi stated his concerns regarding firefighter safety working at the contaminated site. “We have firefighters working in that station every day with extremely high PFAS numbers,” Corradi said during his presentation.
Shellene Thurston, Bay City’s community development director and former environmental consultant, characterized the contamination as subsurface only, without surface-level exposure risk. Thurston noted that contamination is confined to depths between 2 and 8 feet, and regulatory agencies have not required property restrictions or access limitations. Testing of adjoining properties including residential land and Macgregor Elementary School documented PFAS presence, though at significantly lower concentrations than recorded at the fire station property.
The commission voted 7-1 to move forward with station planning, with one commissioner voting in opposition and one abstaining. Commissioner Joseph Charlebois of the 8th Ward opposed the measure, stating that older buildings can be repaired and advocating for addressing other departmental facility needs including Fire Station 5, which closed in 2024.
Fire Station 2 operational data demonstrates the station’s critical role in the city’s emergency response infrastructure. The station responds to approximately 2,000 incidents annually and recorded its highest call volume in the previous year. Engine 2’s average response time within its assigned district is 3.31 minutes.
Fire officials stressed that Fire Station 1, located on Center Avenue, cannot adequately cover the south-end response area currently served by Station 2. “It’s too far to drive and it takes too long to get there,” Corradi stated. “We’re very fortunate on a large number of our structure fires to get water on fire fast, to keep small fires small. This would create significant delays.”
Corradi emphasized that operational planning and environmental cleanup efforts must proceed concurrently to maintain fire protection for the south end while accomplishing PFAS remediation.
The city has secured nearly $1 million through federal grant funding to support demolition of the existing station and environmental remediation of contaminated soil and storm sewer infrastructure. The federal funding has a one-year expiration date and must be utilized within that timeframe.
The city’s preferred location for Fire Station 2 replacement is the former Department of Public Works site on Water Street. Engineering firm Spicer Group estimated construction costs at approximately $9 million for the new facility, though this estimate excludes demolition of existing structures at the Water Street property and does not represent a final project cost.
To finance construction, city officials outlined multiple bonding scenarios. A previously approved $5.2 million bond would require annual payments estimated at $350,000 to $400,000. A new bond of approximately $10 million for station construction would require annual payments projected at $700,000 to $800,000.
Commission members also heard information regarding potential millage assessment approaches. Officials indicated that approximately 1 mill could generate sufficient revenue to cover payments on a $10 million bond. For a homeowner with a taxable property value of $50,000, the estimated annual cost would be approximately $50.
Commissioner Craig Kokaly of the 2nd Ward stated that external funding assistance from state or federal sources is unlikely to materialize, making immediate action necessary. “I’m just not comfortable putting firefighters in a situation where it’s not safe for them,” Kokaly said.