MATTAPOISETT — An event 40 years in the making, ground was broken on the town’s new fire station behind the police department on June 30. 

“To say this is a long time coming would be an understatement,” said Fire Chief Andrew Murray to the crowd.

The current station was built in 1949, and it doesn’t have enough room to accommodate modern fire trucks or their equipment, which is spread out over six different locations, Chief Murray said. 

The project had a 99% and 88% approval rate at the 2018 Town Meeting and Elections, respectively.

“All the support has been nothing short of amazing,” said Chief Murray.

Selectman Jordan Collyer, who is also a captain at the fire department, said that “we desperately need this” fire station. He also thanked State House Representative Bill Strauss, who was at the event, for helping the town overcome bureaucratic hurdles throughout the process, which included problems up until the day before the groundbreaking. 

Michael Hickey, Chairman of the Building Committee, expressed his gratitude to the fire department, press and townspeople who got the word out to garner support for the project. He said construction will be completed in 14 months.