Fire chiefs from Gorham and Buxton are eyeing federal stimulus money as they discuss a possible consolidation of two fire stations.

Although they cautioned that the talks are preliminary, Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre and Buxton Fire Chief Bruce Mullen are exploring building a new station that would replace the West Gorham Fire Station on Ossipee Trail and Buxton’s Chicopee Station on Gillette Road.

“The benefits are many from sharing the cost of heat, lights, telephone and all other operating expenses,” said Lefebvre.

Lefebvre said a combined venture would mean building a new fire station because the present station locations, which are about four miles apart, wouldn’t be adequate to serve both towns. He said the towns are looking into grant money that might be available through the recently passed federal stimulus bill.

Elected leaders from both towns would be involved in any decision to consolidate and close fire stations. Jean Harmon, chairwoman of the Buxton selectmen, said the board planned to meet Wednesday, after American Journal deadline, with Mullen to hear about the talks with Gorham.

Lefebvre told Gorham town councilors last week that he and Mullen were discussing the possibility of a joint venture between the two towns.

Gorham Town Manager David Cole said the town’s elected officials weren’t yet involved in the talks. He said Gorham would weigh the facts and said the town would be open to joint ventures that made sense.

Gorham Town Council Chairman Matt Robinson said he’d favor the proposal, if it benefited the town in savings and service.

Under a joint venture, Lefebvre said, the two towns would also share costs of training and equipping firefighters besides bolstering the ranks of volunteers.

“As it gets harder and harder to get volunteers for our departments, by combining the two stations we will have a good core number of people to serve both communities,” Lefebvre said.

The Chicopee Fire Station is not staffed, while the West Gorham Fire Station is staffed nights. Two college students live free in an apartment at the station in exchange for being on call. Mullen said live-in students could man a new, joint station.

Mullen said the Chicopee Fire Station houses two fire engines and a truck to fight forest fires. Gorham’s Deputy Fire Chief Ken Fickett said the West Gorham station has two fire trucks, a pumper with 1,000 gallons of water on board and a tanker holding 3,500 gallons.

Fire trucks are expensive items to replace. Lefebvre said a fire engine costs more than $350,000 now. He said a joint station could allow both towns to reduce the fleet of firefighting apparatus. Eliminating just one truck would result in “big savings,” Lefebvre said and he added the potential of adding a rescue unit to serve both communities.

Lefebvre said fire station construction money is available in the federal stimulus package. But, Lefebvre is cautious about the possibility of receiving a grant.

“There are no guarantees that we would get any of the money,” Lefebvre said.

Mullen said details of a grant are still being developed.

Harmon said Buxton selectmen would have to approve a grant application and would want to sit down with Gorham’s council to discuss the proposal.

The location of a combined fire station hasn’t been determined. Mullen said it’s unclear whether a grant would cover acquistion of a site. Harmon said town approval from Buxton voters would be necessary, if real estate were involved.

Sharing a fire station would be new venture for Buxton, Harmon said.

However, Robinson said, the Gorham Fire Department has had collaborative efforts with other neighboring communities for years. Gorham shares fire stations and equipment with Scarborough, Standish and Windham.

Cole said Buxton and Gorham have a mutual-aid agreement and sharing a fire station with Buxton would be a natural extension of a “close, working relationship” over the years.

Lefebvre said talks might or might not result in an agreement. “Even, if we agree, it may take a long time to find funding to allow it to happen,” Lefebvre said.

“Everything is still up in the air,” Mullen said.

Mullen said the Chicopee Station is about 60 years old, and Fickett said the West Gorham Fire Station is at least 32.

West Gorham Fire StationChicopee Fire Station in Buxton