A firefighters' union located at the decrepit Fire Station One on New Main Street in downtown Yonkers is preparing to leave the building.

Firefighters vacated the condemned 88-year-old building a little more than a week ago. Barry McGoey, president of Local 628, says he and his staff are packing up and will soon leave. The union offices will be relocated to 470 Neppherhan Ave.

McGoey calls the situation a sad end for the station, which he says was neglected and never properly maintained. For example, he says a leak in the roof was simply patched again and again, but never received a proper repair job.

With more than 50 firefighters relocated to other stations across the city, and having to deal with the resulting overcrowding, McGoey says some emergency response times will be affected.

The union also asked the city to pay its moving costs as it sets up shop in a new location. So far, the city has not offered such an arrangement, according to McGoey.

City officials say there will be no immediate plans regarding the firehouse's fate until the cost of repairing any structural damage can be determined.