“This investment protects our firefighters, who face hazardous exposures every time they respond to a fire,” said Crystal Surdyk, city development director.. “With this equipment in place, we can ensure their gear is properly decontaminated, reducing long-term health risks and strengthening our overall emergency response capacity.”

The reimbursement helped offset costs from the emergency demolition of 1061 Allen Street, the former Crawford Furniture complex, after the November 2022 fire left the site structurally unsound and contaminated with hazardous materials. The money allowed the city to install specialized decontamination equipment at Station 1, which is now fully operational and ready for first responders.

“The new decontamination system is a critical tool for firefighters,” said Ryan Roush, interim city fire chief. “They face exposure to hazardous materials on nearly every call, and having the ability to properly clean and maintain their gear at the station is essential for both their health and readiness.”

The 1061 Allen Street property had been a longstanding concern, repeatedly cited for code violations. When the owners failed to take corrective action, the city pursued legal remedies, directing fines toward this project and placing restrictions on the owners’ future involvement with Jamestown properties.

City officials and firefighters are pictured with new decontamination equipment that was purchased with proceeds from the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Governments Reimbursement Program and a $5,000 fine assessed to Allen Street Development LLC by Jamestown Housing Court. Both sources of funding are a result of the 2022 fire that destroyed a manufacturing building formerly owned by Crawford Furniture but most recently owned by Allen Street Development LLC.

“The devastation at 1061 Allen Street was the result of years of neglect, and the community bears the cost when property owners fail to act responsibly,” said Mayor Kim Ecklund. “Unsafe buildings put residents, first responders, and public resources at risk. As a city, we will hold owners accountable for their inaction and reinvest recovered funds to turn those failures into stronger protections, strengthening public safety and safeguarding Jamestown’s future.”