PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) — Although the game was rained out, Pawtucket firefighters say they had planned to boycott opening day at McCoy Stadium over the looming closure of a fire station located nearby.
City firefighters participated in “public safety night” during the opening of the Pawtucket Red Sox season for many years, but the impending closure of the Columbus Avenue station had union officials fired up.
Will Maher, president of the local firefighters union, alleges that the city plans to close the fire station to create more parking for McCoy Stadium.
Mayor Don Grebien denied the accusation, saying that his decision to close the station was an effort to prevent layoffs in the department.
Public safety officials say it would take more than $2 million to repair the firehouse.
