BELCHERTOWN — Window World of Western Massachusetts donated over $100,000 worth of labor and supplies to install a new roof at the Belchertown Fire Department and extend the lifespan of the building.
Without the contribution of the local business, the fire station’s leaking roof would have had to fight for funding in the already long queue of capital projects in town.
“Its awesome to receive all this outside help and bring us all together on the same common goal,” Fire Chief John Ingram said. “We’re always rushing out of the door to help people, and to be on the other side of it in a different situation is really wonderful and we’re really appreciative.”
The installation process began on Friday, Jan. 16, and will continue until Jan. 23. Tim Drost, owner of Window World of Western Mass, said his team will strip the roof down to the original structure, replace any rotting wood, fix the leaking chimney and put on the new roof.
“We’re from town. Not only is our business in town, but its where our kids grow up,” Drost said. “Whether it’s the fire department and the police department, it’s important for us to support them because they support the whole community.”
Ingram said he noticed water dripping from the apparatus bay last fall. When maintenance took a look, they found loose shingles and water damage. When Drost saw the roof, he realized it had been failing a lot longer than just last year. The roof was only 25 years old, and likely failed to both bad product and bad installation, he said.
The donation comes after Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School students renovated the fire station’s living quarters, saving the town $1.5 million. Window World of Western Mass was working with the department to install skylights for the quarters when Drost found out about the roof.
“We try to do as much projects as we can,” Drost said. “For us, it’s part of who we are, it’s part of our culture. We wish we could do every one, but we try to be involved in things that are making a difference in people’s lives in the community.”
