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Fire leadership warns staffing, fleet and station closures raise safety risks for Torrington's East Side
Summary
Fire department leaders told the board that reduced staffing, aging apparatus and the closure of nearby volunteer stations increase the probability of worse outcomes in the Torrington Ford section; chiefs said legal and environmental reviews are underway for a potential station property.
Battalion-level fire officers told the Torrington Board of Public Safety that staffing shortfalls, aging vehicles and the closure of nearby volunteer stations are increasing risk for the city's East Side (the Torrington Ford section), and urged faster action while legal and environmental reviews proceed on a potential station property.
A battalion chief said the department lacks enough on-duty personnel to form a rapid intervention team — a crew trained and designated to rescue a downed firefighter on the initial attack — and described injuries and difficult conditions at a recent Wall Street structure fire. "I cannot provide that off on the initial cuff ... I can't provide the safety to these guys behind me when the city keeps chipping the stuff away from me," the chief said.
Chief Borden and other officials described a multi-step process before the city could take title or establish a presence on a property often referred to in the meeting as the Torrington Ford site. Corporation counsel and outside counsel must finalize language for an initial term sheet, the city must clear the site for contamination risks (lead paint, PCBs, asbestos) and the Planning and Zoning Commission must complete an 8-24 determination before title can change hands or extensive work begins.
Volunteer fire leaders also spoke at the meeting. The volunteer chief said his company had recruited seven new members since April 1, bringing total membership to 23 (including associates), but several sets of turnout gear were out of date and four sets would need replacement in the coming months. He thanked Torrington for donated gear but said more investment would be required to certify interior firefighting capability.
The board and chiefs discussed possible interim measures, including temporary staffed presence or modular facilities, but officials said legal, environmental and procedural checks could reasonably take 60–90 days once counsel and the commissioners authorize environmental assessors and a design team to review the property.
The board directed staff to continue legal and environmental work and requested monthly updates on progress and any public-safety implications.
The board also approved routine personnel promotions and other procedural business during the same meeting.
