Roof replacement work on the Louise Avenue fire station west of Main Street is almost two weeks ahead of  schedule.

The Manteca City Council in June authorized  an emergency $351,758 contract for Haggerty Construction to do the work.

Six months ago, roughly 1,000 gallons of water was still puddled on the flat roof more than a week after the last measurable rain.

City officials noted sheet rock was installed this week and work is expected to be at a point the engine bay area can be painted next week.

City Manager Toni Lundgren on Thursday said the council will conduct a special meeting later this month to approve needed remodeling repairs to the living quarters,

“We didn’t want to slow down  the roof replacement work so we went ahead with that first,” Lundgren said.

The engine company since June has been shifted to another station.

Crews have been going back to the station if they need additional equipment.

The repairs to the station first opened in the mid-1980s are being covered by insurance.

Manteca applies for

federal firefighter grant

Interim Fire Chief Dave Rudat has submitted a grant request for  Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funding as part of the city’s efforts to work toward adding nine additional firefighters.

That is enough manpower to staff an additional engine company 24/7.

The grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is designed to help fire departments meet staffing standards, enhance emergency response, and support firefighter health and safety,

Lundgren said the funding, if the city is successful in securing it, will help the city add  nine firefighters over the course of several or so years.

The grant partially funds positions with the city picking up the balance. Jurisdictions that accept the finds have to continue funding the position for a set number of years after the last grant dollar has been spent.

Manteca has added firefighters and police using similar grants in the past.

The passage of the 20-year Measure Q sales tax has made it possible for the city to move toward hiring the additional firefighters.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com