The Little Engines That Could

by Colleen Gundlach

This year has been one for the record books for everyone, and the members of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) are no exception. It started off as any other year, with members responding to emergencies as well as attending training sessions and managing fundraisers. Fire Chief Matthew Ludwig reports that, before the Covid pandemic hit in late February, two NVFD members had gone through FireFighter 1 training, while others upgraded the Combi-Tool on one of the trucks, hosted a regional tanker drill, attended a forcible-entry class as well as a cold water rescue class. “And we still had time to install a dry hydrant on Estey Road.”

With all that going on, what happened to the department when Covid hit? Well, it seems that they became even busier. “Having a responsibility to the town and all of the residents to respond when there’s an emergency, the members of the NVFD stepped up and kept answering that call,” says Ludwig. For safety reasons, the number of hours members spend at the station was modified, the number of members responding in each truck was decreased and extra personal protective equipment (PPE) was used when entering homes. Much of the PPE was donated by residents and businesses in support of the first responders.

It was a difficult time for everyone, and according to Ludwig, “Our members came together to keep this department functioning and keep people’s spirits lifted.” NVFD members participated in birthday drive-by parades for Norfolk children who were unable to have birthday parties due to Covid restrictions. And since schools were closed, and many end-of-school-year events canceled, NVFD volunteers led a Botelle teachers parade through town and later honored the Regional 7 graduating seniors with a parade. 

For the first time in 41 years, the fire department’s Memorial Day Five-Mile Road Race was canceled, out of caution for the health of the participants. The proceeds from this event every year help fund the NVFD Scholarship Program, and without it there were no funds. However, the townspeople stepped up to the challenge and donated enough money to fund 10 scholarships that were awarded to deserving Norfolk students.

While the department was helping keep up town morale, members still had their main duties to attend to, and attend they did. During fiscal year 2019-20, members responded to 144 calls, including building fires, motor vehicle accidents, brush fires, search and rescues, chimney fires, downed trees and wires, and they even rescued one cat from a tree. “These emergencies come at all times of day and night,” says Ludwig. “Without our members’ continued dedication to training and quick responses, the outcomes of these incidents, and the lives affected, would be greatly impacted.”

Leading this group of dedicated individuals is a group of officers who were recently elected to new positions. Matthew Ludwig is the town’s fire chief, assisted by first assistant Brian Hutchins and second assistant chief Jonathan Barbagallo. Steven Hutchins serves as captain, with Michael Fox, first lieutenant; Thaylia Newman, second lieutenant; Brad Funk, third lieutenant; Daniel Wuori, EMS captain; Paul Padua, president; Kitty Hickox, vice president; Judy Ludwig, secretary; and Katie Hester, treasurer. Ron Zanobi and Ted Hinman serve as trustees of the organization, and John Hutchins and Ken Ludwig keep the engines in fine shape as the department’s mechanics. 

NVFD members are looking forward to a renovated and expanded fire station in the near future. The town’s Board of Selectmen has formed a building committee to look into the expansion of the current station. “With recent events, it is imperative to properly house the lifesaving tools and apparatus the community of Norfolk so heavily relies on,” Ludwig says. 

In addition to looking forward to an expanded home base, NVFD will be receiving a grant of $181,400 from the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of one base radio for the firehouse, seven mobile radios, one radio for each truck and 27 portable radios. Norfolk Public Information Officer Jonathan Barbagallo reports that the application for this grant was a joint effort by the NVFD, the Norfolk Lions Club ambulance, the Winsted Fire Department, the Winchester Volunteer Fire Department and the Winsted ambulance. Norfolk ambulance will received $37,400 for the purchase of a base radio for the ambulance, two mobile radios and three portable radios. According to Barbagallo, “This is just part of a bigger award of about $680,000 from the federal government, and each department is required to pay 5 percent” of the cost of the new equipment.

As with most volunteer organizations, NVFD is always looking for volunteers. “Help is always needed, from firefighting to administrative functions,” says Ludwig. “We encourage anyone with a desire to help our community’s emergency services to apply.” Interested volunteers can contact Ludwig at the fire station at 860-542-5021.