On Thursday, May 22, 2025, history was made. Scores of townspeople poured into the Hall of Flags at Botelle School and spoke with one unanimous voice approving the plans for a new Norfolk firehouse.
For all of us in the fire department, it was an exciting and emotional moment. We have made our current firehouse work for more than 50 years. Now, thanks to your support, we are about to have a building that is infinitely better and safer and will serve the needs of the fire department and our town for decades to come.

Thank you First Selectman Matt Riiska and all the members of the Firehouse Building Committee who spent countless hours analyzing and revising plans in order to develop the right building for Norfolk.
Thank you Tony Kiser, Barry Roseman and all of those who have stepped up to get the capital campaign off to a $3 million start.

Thank you Maria Horn and our state legislative team who secured a critical $2.5 million grant.
Most of all, thank you to our fellow townspeople. Your unanimous approval and financial commitment was an endorsement of not only the new firehouse but also all of us—your friends and neighbors who are carrying on a more than 100-year tradition of volunteerism and community service.

Soon, we will break ground. We will start planning how to shift operations from our old firehouse to our new one. And inevitably, yes, we will be fundraising. To keep the cost to the town as low as possible, we took lots of small things (like appliances) out of the plan.

But now is the time for celebration. By coming together on Thursday night, we made history. We spoke with one voice and said yes to our future. For that we are eternally grateful.

From all of us, thank you:
Brian Hutchins, Fire Chief
Paul Padua, President, NVFD
And all the members of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department