Charlton Fire Deploys Highway Alert Tech as Substation Bid Comes in Under Budget

CHARLTON — February 11, 2025 — Charlton Fire Department installs highway-alert transponders as fire substation bid comes in at $12.6 million. Fire Chief Rob Barton told the Select Board Tuesday that the department has contracted with Safety Cloud for a product called Haas Alert, placing transponders in three ambulances and two primary engines that respond to the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 20; when emergency lights activate, nearby drivers using Waze or compatible navigation apps receive an automatic warning. Barton said the department runs roughly 250 Turnpike calls per year and that reimbursement payments from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will cover the $600-per-vehicle cost. Town Administrator Andrew Golos separately reported that Tower Construction of Rhode Island submitted the lowest general contractor bid for the long-planned fire substation at $12.6 million, described as significantly below earlier projections, with a groundbreaking expected in about two months. In a presentation that drew a direct question about finances, RAISE Foundation board member Sabrina Webb disclosed that the Charlton senior energy-assistance nonprofit — which has distributed more than $200,000 in heating and cooling grants since 2009 — may have sufficient reserves for only one more season and is urgently seeking to grow its volunteer board from roughly four active members to 12.