Insurance inspection forces removal of equipment from Chapman Street firehouse; commissioners press for quick fix

Commissioners at the Newington Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on May 14 said an insurance inspection of the Chapman Street firehouse found the building in poor condition and the carrier will not insure vehicles or personnel there, forcing the department to move equipment to alternate locations.

The finding prompted immediate operational concerns. "It was in deplorable condition and it basically would not cover any vehicles, any fire trucks, any personnel or anything like that," the chief said, describing the insurance company’s inspection and the resulting requirement to relocate apparatus. Commissioners warned that losing use of the building has already forced equipment to be parked outside and moved to locations where personnel are less familiar with equipment and response routes.

Why it matters: commissioners said the department depends on Chapman Street for secure, trained access to apparatus and that the sudden move created safety and maintenance risks. One commissioner told the board that the loss of the building could mean an 18–24 month disruption if a solution is not rapidly agreed upon.

The town manager offered to help identify temporary storage and to reach across departments to find short-term accommodations. According to commissioners, Town Manager Jonathan has reached out to other town departments to identify possible storage, but limited space in highway and parks facilities constrains options.

Complicating remediation are conflicting legal opinions. Commissioners told the meeting that an earlier town attorney’s opinion (circa 2019) concluded Chapman Street was the fire department’s property and responsibility, while a later legal opinion favored the town. "Whether there are two legal opinions on the books, one favors us, one favors the town," a commissioner said, noting the split could prolong resolution.

What happens next: Commissioners said they will press the town council and mayor to accelerate work and explore insurance, storage and remediation options. The town manager has indicated willingness to assist, and the commission urged members of the public and stakeholders to raise space needs with the public building committee as they pursue a short- and long-term fix.

At the meeting, community members and commissioners emphasized preserving Chapman Street as a usable historic firehouse if possible. The board did not adopt a formal timetable beyond pressing council staff for faster action; no vote or formal transfer of property occurred during the meeting.