Second opinion on Lindenhurst firehouse

The Village of Lindenhurst has hired an engineering firm to offer a second opinion about a firehouse that officials say is falling apart.

The village board Tuesday approved the hiring of H2M in Melville for $3,500. The firm will be examining the Wellwood Avenue firehouse and offering a “second look at the first opinion,” said Shawn Cullinane, administrator clerk-treasurer for the village.

An earlier report by ECG Engineering LLC of Smithtown found that the “potential exists for a significant structural failing” and repairing the building “borders on impossible.” The village paid ECG $7,500.

“This is an important project. We want to make sure we don’t miss anything,” Cullinane said of hiring H2M.

The 1923 firehouse, which was damaged by a fire in 1978, is too small for modern vehicles, officials said. The village has put together a committee of civic, fire and village officials to investigate whether to rebuild on site or build a new firehouse elsewhere. The committee’s findings are to be presented to the public in September, officials said.