Torrington volunteers offer station to city as officials weigh East End coverage

Several residents and volunteer firefighters urged the Torrington Board of Public Safety on April 2 to keep emergency coverage on the city’s East End after Torringford Volunteer Fire Department announced it would close its station temporarily.

The public comment period opened with David Casper, a Torrington battalion chief and longtime firefighter, who recounted his start in local volunteer service and urged city leaders not to “let the efforts of so many good people fall away with the closing of this department.” Casper said Torringford helped train at least 10 current active members and many retirees.

The concern resonated across the room. Karen Thomas, an East End resident, said she feared longer response times and asked the board to “please consider staffing that, whether it be with paid staff or putting something in there, so the East End residents are considered safe.” Sharon Wagner, a longtime homeowner and former volunteer department officer, described repeated reliance on off‑duty callbacks and said, “Staffing levels have to be improved. They’re inadequate.”

Tim Schapp, secretary‑treasurer of the Retired Firefighters and Police Officers Association, told the board he had been told Torringford’s members were offering the city more than “a million dollars worth of property and equipment” for continued public safety use if an agreement could be reached.

Torrington Fire Union President Tim O’Donnell said the union has long advocated for more manpower and described Torringford as a consistent supplemental source of staffing: “We could count pretty, pretty consistently that Torringford was gonna be there at multi alarm fires to provide that additional manpower needed.”

Mayor (unnamed) and city officials told the room that no final decision had been made about East End coverage. The mayor said repeatedly, “no decisions have been made about East End coverage,” and urged patience while legal and facility checks proceed.

Fire Chief Borden and other city staff outlined steps the city must take before housing career firefighters in an older volunteer building. Chief Borden said the city needs a facility assessment and environmental clearance: the building “is older. I don't know whether it has lead paint, asbestos, etcetera,” and recommended a Limited Environmental Protocol (LEP) to “give us a clean bill of health.” The mayor added that the building was built in 1961 and that issues including asbestos, mold, septic vs. sewer connections, dormitory and kitchen requirements, bay sizes and insurance all require review before anyone could be placed in the station long‑term.

Deputy chief and other staff described interim options. The deputy said Torringford offered daytime staffing for a limited period and estimated a short‑term improvement to East End coverage could cost less than $45,000 through July 1; he also said Torringford had offered to “get back to the city and $15,000” for daytime coverage. City officials asked corporation counsel to start discussions with Torringford’s attorney about lease or donation arrangements and insurance.

Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department representatives thanked Torringford for its service and described their own capital needs, including an engine replacement (an AFG grant application for roughly $925,000), apron repairs estimated at $20,000–$32,000, turnout gear replacement (~$16,000), a new set of extrication tools (~$15,000) and an air filtration system (~$11,000–$12,000). Drakeville said it had added several new members and was trying to expand its capacity to continue supplementing city coverage.

Deputy and mapping staff presented response data for the East End to the board: from March 28, 2023 to March 28, 2024, the East End recorded 774 calls (401 EMS, 272 fire/nonmedical calls, 101 other calls). Citywide call volume for that period was 4,482. The deputy said roughly 70–72% of calls occur between the North End and headquarters, and GIS analysis suggested that adding an East End station (or a triangulated three‑station model) would improve response times in some neighborhoods.

The board did not vote on a long‑term plan at the meeting. Instead, board members said they would pursue legal and engineering reviews, have corporation counsel contact Torringford’s attorney and commission a facilities study and environmental testing before determining whether to accept donated equipment or lease/use the Torringford station.

Ending: Officials said they would continue subcommittee work and follow legal steps before making a decision. Residents and volunteer leaders asked the board to move quickly; city staff said a short‑term staffing arrangement is under discussion while a longer solution, including site remediation and facility upgrades, is planned.