By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The newly opened Fire Headquarters is fully operational once again after a motor vehicle crashed into the back of the building on Thursday, Oct. 16.
In a press release sent to the Villager, Town Administrator Rob Dolan said that, “At approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday, afternoon, Oct. 16, 2025, a privately-owned vehicle backed over an elevated granite curb, striking the left northeast corner of the new Fire Headquarters at 1100 Summer St.”
“This incident caused significant damage to the exterior and interior of that portion of the building,” stated Dolan.
Surveillance footage of the crash shows a 2019 Porsche Macan SUV accelerating in reverse before crashing into the left northeast corner of the newly opened Fire Headquarters. The driver was not transported to the hospital, and the back of the SUV sustained significant damage.
Dolan noted that the town, contractor Commodore Builders, Tappé Architects and Building Inspector Joe O’Callaghan collaborated with a “private structural engineer to assess the damages done to the building.” He wrote in a follow-up statement posted on the Town of Lynnfield Facebook page that Fire Headquarters was cleared to reopen on Oct. 17.
“After careful inspection by an independent structural engineer, the Lynnfield Fire Department Headquarters has been cleared for use and has reopened,” stated Dolan. “The stairwell portion that was damaged by the car, the left northeast corner, is not in use at this time. Our architectural team and all related professionals are currently on-site to put a plan in place to repair all damage.”
Additionally, Dolan wrote in a separate statement posted on the Town of Lynnfield Facebook page that “all public and Post Office access to the rear of the building is restricted.”
“We are making accommodations for reserved Post Office parking spaces to be placed in front of the old fire station, off Salem Street,” stated Dolan. “These spots can also be used by USPS (United States Postal Service) staff.”
The new Fire Headquarters officially opened last week.
Voters approved the $63.5 million public safety and Town Hall project in December 2022, which included constructing the new three-story, four-bay Fire Headquarters next to the existing South Fire Station in South Lynnfield. The project also entails renovating and expanding the Center Fire Station, the Police Station and Town Hall.
The second floor of the new Fire Headquarters serves as a private area for firefighters. An elevator will allow people to access the third floor of Fire Headquarters, which includes office spaces for Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis and other Fire Department officials. The third floor also includes a meeting room that firefighters, town employees and residents can use.
The old South Fire Station will be razed as part of the public safety/Town Hall project. Fall Town Meeting will be asked to approve Article 11 on Monday, Oct. 27, which will allocate funds to raze and remediate the South Fire Station site after PFAS soil contamination was discovered while the new Fire Headquarters was being constructed.