Current building too small for safety and efficiency

By Doug McDevitt

From a cat in a tree to a perilous rescue in a burning building, our first responders are always on call and ready to respond. It’s common knowledge that when others are running away from danger, there are those who run to it, and the brave volunteers of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department definitely fit into the latter category. Established in 1902, the NVFD has been saving lives in the Norfolk community for nearly 120 years.

Unfortunately for the fire department and the community, the NVFD is operating and coordinating its many activities in a very small space––only 3,777 square feet. There are some homes in Norfolk larger than that. According to Jon Barbagallo, the NVFD’s public information officer, the building has only been remodeled once since its construction in 1970. Barbagallo said that during storm Isaias in August there were 23 power trucks from across the country, with 150 to 250 linemen, all crammed into a building that was designed to support only a handful of firefighters, all while planning a restoration operation that would have impressed Eisenhower.

The department has to house six trucks, one utility vehicle, plus a trailer and a plethora of miscellaneous equipment, some of which is kept outside in all types of weather (and some is even at Botelle School). The interior of the firehouse is so cramped that trucks are being used as storage lockers and have to be moved to allow members to perform simple duties—a highly inefficient way to operate.

The lack of space also hinders training, since the general purpose room is the only place to perform training procedures. There’s also barely enough room to accommodate the 25 to 27 people who show up for monthly meetings.

Most crucial is that the current situation is not safe for the firefighters. When there’s an alarm, people are filing in and climbing over trucks to grab their gear off the wall at the same time that trucks are starting to head out, all happening only inches apart. 

According to First Selectman Matt Riiska, a proposal for a new firehouse was looked at 10 years ago, in 2011, but it was shelved because of budgetary constraints. He said that the need for a newer building has now become a priority, as demonstrated by storm Isaias, which highlighted its inadequacy.

Since last October, the town’s Firehouse Committee has been meeting once a month to discuss the requirements for a new building. It has been determined that the new structure would cost an estimated $3.5 million. Although the committee is still waiting to see designs, it is expected that the current building will be incorporated into the new structure to lessen the cost, perhaps with extensions added to both ends of the building. Several bids have been sent to selected architects, and it is hoped that a firm can be chosen by the end of May, with plans finalized by late fall. The new firehouse would enable the NVFD to meet health and safety standards and ensure a viable first responding department for the next 50 years. A new building would also enhance the fire rating for the town and benefit residents with the potential of improved homeowner insurance rates.

This project will be funded by the town and through donations.