KITTERY – Sen. Susan Collins said Wednesday the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard needs a new fire station and she plans to make it a budget priority.

“They have convinced me that they do need a modern new fire station,” said Collins, R-Maine.

Shipyard spokeswoman Debbie White said the fire station’s recent improvements have helped, but the building remains inadequate.

“The main structure was built in the mid-1800s, which can make it challenging to accommodate all of today’s modern-day equipment,” she said.