Bolton fire chief reports 61 calls, $6,676 grant for training gear and 13 Knox Boxes installed

Fire Chief Bruce Dixon told the Bolton Fire Commission on Feb. 27 that the department handled 61 calls over the past month, including seven motor vehicle accidents, two brush fires, one structure fire, mutual aid responses and three calls related to trees on wires or downed trees.

Dixon said he presented the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department's budget to the Board of Selectmen and had not yet been told of any cuts to the department's budget. He described vendor coordination for ET134: a Zoom meeting with Pierce reduced expected travel costs by about $1,000 per person, and an in‑house meeting with vendor Firematic is now planned.

Dixon reported the department received a Greater Hartford Bolton grant for $6,676. "The funds will be used for firefighter ladders, belts and a roof prop in the training area behind the firehouse," the meeting record states. He also noted that he posted the list of BVFD members eligible to vote for Fire Chief and Deputy Chief in May based on calls, drills and meeting attendance over a 12‑month period.

The commission also noted in the Fire Marshal's report that the Board of Selectmen has started making cuts to other budgets and that cuts to the BVFD budget are possible as the town faces a challenging fiscal year.

Deputy Fire Marshal activities discussed included senior Knox Box installations (13 now in service), poster contest duties and presentations, two burn permits, a fire marshal presentation at the firehouse that included a Connecticut State Police accelerant dog demonstration, CRFMA meeting attendance, and multiple inspections at properties including 890 Boston Turnpike and Carpenter Road apartments.