Norwich residents denounce shutdown of Yantic volunteer fire company, demand restoration and transparency
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Summary
Dozens of residents urged Norwich City Council to restore the Yantic Fire Engine Company and criticized city managers and the paid fire chief for removing apparatus without clear public justification; speakers cited safety, training, petitions and costs tied to overtime.
Dozens of residents told the Norwich City Council on Feb. 17 that the city’s recent decision to remove apparatus from the Yantic Fire Engine Company threatens neighborhood safety and disrespects a 179‑year volunteer tradition.
At a packed public comment session, speakers including Yantic volunteers, long‑time residents and former elected officials urged the council to restore the station’s trucks and return the company to service. Several speakers described the removal of apparatus as abrupt and urged the city to release the operational findings that prompted the action.
Why it matters: Public commenters said removing local apparatus will lengthen response times and increase costs because paid staff must cover gaps. Multiple speakers presented personal incidents where volunteer firefighters arrived first on scene; one volunteer said an outside company arriving instead could mean waiting 13–15 minutes for an engine. Petition organizers said an online petition in favor of restoring Yantic had gathered more than 2,000 signatures.
Council members heard sustained criticism of Fire Chief Sam Wilson’s handling of recent operational changes. Robert Allen, identified in the record as chief of the Yantic Fire Engine Company, said the station’s bays remain empty and that he was not contacted before apparatus were taken: "It took him over a week to mention what Yantic did wrong that would warrant such a shutdown," Allen said. Multiple speakers accused the chief of a "power trip" and asked the council and city manager to intervene.
Volunteers and supporters also emphasized training and readiness. Tim Jenks, a 37‑year volunteer and 25‑year officer, told the council volunteers receive extensive training and save the city substantial sums: "The volunteer fire system saves tens of thousands of dollars," he said. Christina Parker, a first responder, said safety depends on communication and transparent risk assessment; she criticized the lack of clear information from command staff about what operational failings the city sought to fix.
Fiscal and legal concerns: Commenters warned of increased overtime costs and legal risk if the city makes structural changes without legislative or public approval. Matthew Simpson framed the issue as a charter matter, arguing temporary operational adjustments should not usurp voter‑protected institutional status and that the council has a fiduciary duty to ensure changes rest on firm legal footing.
City manager’s report (context): Earlier in the meeting the city manager noted a temporary adjustment to fire service in the Yantic area under a Norwich Fire Department Unified Command structure intended "exclusively to protect public safety" while further contingency planning continues. The manager also said the city had been served with a lawsuit by multiple fire companies related to the recent changes.
What’s next: Speakers demanded a timeline and clear criteria for restoring Yantic apparatus. Several urged an independent operational review, full public disclosure of any safety‑related findings, and either restoration of the station or a public vote before permanent structural change.
The council did not take a vote on restoration at the meeting; public comment time expired after an hour plus an approved 30‑minute extension.
