PARIS – Selectmen will address the future of the former fire station, which partially collapsed on St. Patrick’s Day.

The garage roof of the Pine Street building caved in on March 17 under the weight of snow. The building was being used for town storage, and housed two antique fire trucks, a police-owned ATV, a speed trailer, and a trailer owned by the Highway Department.

Town Manager Sharon Jackson said a 1948 Mack fire truck was able to be driven away from the scene. The truck, which sustained some damage in the collapse, is owned by Paris Fireman’s Relief and was insured. The other equipment was not affected.

Jackson said Wednesday that the station, which was on the agenda on Monday, will return to selectmen at their April 14 meeting. She said the property, which is owned by the town, is not being maintained. One possibility would be to sell the building, although the sale of town property must be approved by voters and the town decided against selling the fire station in 2004.

On Monday, Jackson said several local businesses had assisted in the response after the building’s collapse. She thanked David Everett and his son Scott for donating their time and equipment to help clear the wreckage. Jackson said KBS donated plywood used to secure the opening left in the building by removing the garage.

Jackson did not have an estimate of damage on Wednesday. The building is insured, and Jackson said the town has a $53 credit with ABC Rubbish after the company sold the remains of the garage for scrap, offsetting the hauling costs. On Monday, Jackson said the town will also receive a credit from CN Brown, which will pump out oil from the building’s tanks.

Selectman David Ivey asked Jackson at Monday’s meeting why the building roof had not been shoveled off. Jackson said the matter was discussed, but the work wasn’t done.

“It was a roof that was overlooked,” she said.

Selectman Gerald Kilgore took exception when Ivey asked if there had been any offers to the town to shovel the roof.

“It sounds to me like someone’s looking to put the blame on someone,” said Kilgore. “You’re looking for the blame, you’ve got to blame us, too.”

Ivey said it would be irresponsible not to ask the questions, and resident Bob Ripley agreed.

“Mistakes happen,” said Ripley. “It’s nothing more than that.”

Resident Cynthia Burmeister said the building has historic value as a tall fire station.

“It could have wonderful possibilities,” she said.

Jackson said the wooden part of the building was constructed in 1910. Deputy Fire Chief William Buffington said the steel, four-bay garage was added in 1967. The building was used by the Paris Fire Department as its station until 2003, when a new building was constructed on Western Avenue.