A new state-of-the-art firehouse for Engine 17 opened at 37 East Street on Meetinghouse Hill in Dorchester, replacing the original station built in 1928. Designed to improve firefighter safety and wellness, the facility includes modern health hazard zones, energy-efficient features, and living spaces for firefighters. The $30 million project also incorporates public art to be completed by 2026.
The ribbon-cutting event on Friday, September 27, 2024, included a dedication to Marie Conley, a Dorchester traffic supervisor who died in 2008 after saving a child from an oncoming vehicle. A memorial in her honor now stands near the firehouse, recognizing her heroic act. Her son, Chris Conley, is now a firefighter at Engine 17, deepening the family’s connection to the community.
Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke called the firehouse a national model for safety and energy efficiency, while local officials highlighted the collaboration between the City and residents in bringing the project to life.
“This firehouse will be a national template for combining firefighter safety and energy efficiency, protecting both the firefighters who occupy it and the environment we live in,” said Commissioner Burke.
