The City of Beacon is pulling firefighters, an engine, and equipment from a 130-year-old firehouse that some city officials believe is not worth repairing.

Mayor Lee Kyriacou announced at this week's city council meeting the fire department would leave the Beacon Engine Firehouse on East Main Street, and the city would update its other two firehouses on Main Street and South Avenue.

"Today, I am providing [a] 90-day notice that the city is exercising its legal right to exit from the lease agreement," Mayor Kyriacou said at the meeting. "Taxpayer-funded firefighters and equipment are expected to leave the private portion of the Beacon Engine Firehouse by the end of April 2020."

The Mayor and Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis cited research done by a private firm and the fire department that found condensing from three firehouses to two will improve firefighter safety, health, and logistics.

Officials pointed out Mase Hook & Ladder on Main Street is located about 1,800 feet from the Beacon Engine Firehouse, just across Fishkill Creek, allowing for response times to locations south of the creek to still, "well exceed National Fire Protection Association(NFPA) guidelines," according to a press release from the city.

Some who lives south of the creek said response times will be affected.

Former councilman and firefighter Louie Amoroso told Spectrum News on Wednesday afternoon the city should consider the windy route from the Mase Hook & Ladder to locations south of the creek.

"If there's no problem, then what is that?" Amoroso said as he pointed to a newspaper article on his kitchen counter with the headline, "Council Discusses Main Street Access."

"They can't get on Main Street," Amoroso continued. "Let's be realistic about it. We're talking about parking; we're talking about going down Main Street, mirrors getting knocked off of cars, cars getting sideswiped down Main Street."

City officials said on Wednesday the city still owns one-third of the East Main Street building and will work with the other owners — the Beacon Engine Volunteer Fire Company — to figure out what to do with the building once it is empty.

"While the city does not own the larger portion of the Beacon Engine Building, we will collaborate with the private volunteer company in determining an appropriate future for the entire building," Mayor Kyriacou wrote in a statement.