St. Johnsbury Fire Chief Pitches Public Safety Facility Proposals

ST. JOHNSBURY — The fire chief on Monday pitched three options for the department’s future home, and none has them remaining at their current century-old Main Street location.

“There is no way 1187 (Main St.) is going to work for the fire station (into the future),” said Chief Brad Reed during a select board meeting on Monday.

The fire department has been located there since the building was constructed 102 years ago. It’s also where the police department and emergency dispatching services are located.

Deficiencies dating back decades have driven years of conversations about relocating the fire department. Officials report space limitations and infrastructure shortcomings, plus structural degradation in the bay floors where the massive million-dollar fire trucks sit. The basement beneath the bays is currently off-limits because pieces of concrete are falling from the ceiling.

While there have been many conversations over many years about the need to relocate, the current discussion is detailed and backed by the work of a Public Safety Facility Committee.

The committee formed following failed efforts last year to relocate the police department and dispatch center into the St. Johnsbury Armory on Main Street for $12.55 million. The town had earlier secured over $5 million in a bond vote to make the move, but when it was finally time to bid out the project, construction costs had soared, and the town needed to go back to taxpayers to request more bond capacity. In June 2025, a majority of voters said no.

And now it’s time for your Moo92 sports…

5 unanswered goals from 5 different players was too much for the Boston Bruins to overcome as they went down to the Montreal Canadians on Thursday night by a score of 5-2. Jacob Fowler with 30 saves in the win for the Habs. The Canadians return home Saturday to take on Colorado while the Bruins will host the Minnesota Wild. Both puck drops on Saturday at 7pm.