Norwalk Fire Department reports higher call volume for 2025, commissions new fireboat and schedules mutual-aid drill

Norwalk Fire Department officials told the Board of Fire Commissioners on Sept. 16 that August produced 729 incidents — an average of 23.5 calls per day — and that the department has handled 5,625 incidents year to date in 2025.

The August activity included 17 fires (two building fires), 41 rescues, 445 emergency medical service calls, 20 hazardous conditions, 20 service calls, 131 fire alarms and 55 good-intent calls. Year-to-date through 2025 the department reported 5,625 incidents and 9,019 company responses, both slightly higher than 2024.

Operations staff reported that the new fireboat, MU229, was officially commissioned Sept. 4, christened the Harry W. Rilling. The vessel was placed in the water at Betts Park and crews have begun training on it.

Norwalk will host a mutual-aid tanker drill on Saturday, Oct. 11, bringing tankers from Stamford, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton to exercise water-supply procedures for low-water districts. The drill aims to familiarize agencies with equipment and procedures for supplying water to fire scenes.

The operations report also summarized two notable structure fires on Aug. 29. At 28 Point Road Engine 5 found fire burning in front of a fireplace and extinguished it with a pressurized water can; Truck 2 checked for extension and found none, and there were no injuries. At 62 Osborne Ave the first engine found smoke showing; crews found fire in an unfinished bathroom wall with extension into the ceiling, extinguished it and ventilated the structure; no injuries were reported.

Training updates included orientation on a Flax Hill Road temporary water main and hydrant setup, a two-week structural collapse shoring class with hands-on sessions planned at Ranzulli Road, ongoing tiller driver training, marine training with the new vessel and preplanning tours at Greenledge Lighthouse. Recruits are in week four of training at the regional fire school; staff said their evaluations have been “excellent.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office reported 231 properties inspected in August, including three large multi-site inspections totaling 271 units, nine plan reviews (fees $1,580), two liquor-license renewals (fees $130) and total income of $1,710 for the month. The office conducted eight investigations during August (seven fires and one code-hazard investigation) and completed life-safety inspections at Sono Elementary School before its Aug. 25 opening.

Commissioners requested a monthly breakdown of calls into District 6 (the six-taxing-district area) to inform future budget discussions; operations staff said they will provide those figures by email.