Greg Stuart, center, a firefighter with the Clinton and Winslow fire departments, is joined Oct. 20 by Ethan Bowers, 7, of Benton and his sister, Emma Rimes-Bowers, 14, of Clinton as they learn about the Clinton Fire & Rescue Department during an open house. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

CLINTON — Clinton voters approved the borrowing of $1.9 million to help fund a new fire station in one of their six referendum votes Tuesday.

It was a close vote, with 809 votes in favor and 657 against.

The new fire station will be built on a lot at 27 Baker St., next to the Town Office.

Town Manager Daniel Swain said that the current station on Church Street doesn’t have enough room for vehicles or equipment. The bays house two ambulances, pickup trucks and three fire trucks, most of which are double-parked to fit. With new EMS vehicle regulations, that space has become even tighter.

Living space and storage were also considered inadequate by staff, Swain said. The one bedroom at the back of the station doesn’t have enough room to house full-time and part-time personnel who have far commutes, and the station has limited room to store items.

At around 10,000 square feet, the new fire station will double the size of the old station. Ground will be broken as soon as possible next spring, fire Chief Travis Leary told the Morning Sentinel.

The $1.9 million adds on to about $2 million the town was awarded two years ago for a new fire station as part of congressional spending.