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Bolton Fire Commission: 60 emergency calls since last meeting; chief outlines radio upgrade and pending FEMA grant
Summary
At its Jan. 26 meeting the Bolton Fire Commission heard that the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department responded to 60 emergency calls since the prior meeting, including a vehicle-into-building rescue and several storm responses; Chief Dixon described a multiyear radio replacement plan and said a FEMA grant decision is pending.
The Bolton Fire Commission convened at 7 p.m. Monday at the Bolton Fire House. Chairman John Morianos presided; commission members Chris Moquin, Danny Moquin and Elizabeth Malone attended (Malone via Zoom). Chief Dixon joined remotely to deliver department updates.
Chief Dixon told the commission the department has handled 60 emergency calls since the previous meeting, including seven motor-vehicle accidents and three fires (a brush fire, smoke in a building and a bucket of ashes that ignited a wood floor beam). He described a recent rescue in which an SUV backed into a two-car free‑standing garage and became lodged; firefighters extracted the driver through a rear window after noting the vehicle was temporarily supporting part of the structure. Dixon said six members staffed the firehouse during a recent storm and that BVFD responded to four storm-related emergencies while also conducting hands-on training with UTV134.
The chief reported personnel and training developments: Joshua Sawtelle passed his Firefighter I exam, Matt Forzano will attend a 3.5-month recruit class in Windsor Locks, and another member is nearing completion of an EMT course. On capital planning, Dixon outlined a multiyear plan to replace radios through the department’s capital budget and said the department is waiting for a decision on a FEMA grant that could affect timing and scope.
On the department’s near-term calendar, Dixon said a budget hearing with the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. He also noted a planned strategic-plan meeting was postponed because of the storm and will be rescheduled at an undetermined date; the department met with the town’s CIP committee to review target capital projects.
The Fire Marshal reported on recent activities and inspections. Items included a CRFMA meeting in Rocky Hill, a fire investigation at 31 Clark Road, completion of a six‑hour open-burning test and identification of a state poster-contest winner from Bolton Center School (a fourth grader). Inspections logged since the last meeting included Cropley’s (egress), Dollar General (follow-up after the holidays), Villa Louisa (annual), a new business on Tolland Road, Red Wood Landscaping (three‑year business inspection), Simonize (updates) and the 6 Notch Road apartments.
A motion to approve the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting minutes was made by commission member Chris Moquin and seconded by commission member Danny Moquin; the minutes do not record the outcome of that motion. Chief Dixon noted the bills that were paid since the prior meeting but no formal vote on payment appears in these minutes. The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m. on a motion by Chris Moquin, seconded by Elizabeth Malone; the minutes record the outcome as "VU" (voice unanimous).
The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.
