Michael Gagne
New Haven Register, Conn.
(TNS)
Aug. 17—DANBURY — Local fire officials backed a proposal to locate a new fire station on the city’s growing west side.
Current and former department leaders testified to the station’s need during a public hearing Thursday night regarding a $49 million bond request that city leaders said would cover the cost to build a fire station, as well as cover the expenses of other public safety and infrastructure improvements. Meanwhile, other city residents questioned the proposed cost of the bond, whether it covered the entire cost of the proposal, and questioned whether the bond process was being rushed.
But for Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Halas, the fire station’s construction is long overdue. He cited increased call volumes and frustrating response times to fire and medical emergencies on the west side.
“I’ve been in numerous bad incidents out on the west side, and it is extremely frustrating that it takes us so long,” Halas said.
He said his department’s volume of calls has doubled in his 25 years there.
“My first year here, we did 5,700 runs. We’re over 12,000,” Halas said.
Officials plan to locate the proposed fire station in the Mill Plain Road area, although a specific location hasn’t been identified.
Mayor Roberto Alves told the City Council that leaders estimate the cost of the station, including land acquisition and construction, will be between $18 million to $22 million.
“This is a station that will benefit the entire city of Danbury,” said former city fire chief Peter Siecienski, who added, “The immediate benefits are for people within that response area of the new station.”
Siecienski said the construction of a new fire station on the west side will not only improve response times for fires and medical emergencies, but it will help to reduce residents’ and business owners’ insurance costs.
Firefighter John Whitehead, a city resident, said he’s “witnessed growth in the city’s population and buildings over the past 18 years.
“The west side of the city has exploded, adding more people, more housing, lightweight construction,” Whitehead said. “It puts our lives and citizens’ lives at risk.”
He said the growth and increasing calls for service throughout the city has led to reduced efficiency in terms of emergency services.
“If somebody’s choking, we hear it all of the time. Why did it take you guys so long to get here? We look pretty silly. Adding additional Fire Company to the west side will improve faster response times, increase fire protection, limit the impact of fire protection for the rest of the city,” Whitehead said.
Halas said a fire doubles every 60 to 90 seconds, in explaining one of the needs for reducing response times.
Still, the proposal had skeptics.
Mark Cammisa, a west side resident, urged leaders to not “rush the process.”
“Make sure $49 million is good,” he said, while also urging leaders to “please be careful where you select the location. Mill Plain Road is a disaster.”
Former council member Warren Levy did not question the need for a new fire station. However, he said the proposal lacked specific details, particularly around costs.
“There were no details, and there were no numbers associated with property, the cost of property to put the firehouse on, or the firehouse itself, or the number of bays we’re talking about,” Levy said.
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