Noroton Fire Dept. seeks money for expansion

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ernesto, a house on Woodland Drive was, in a sense, left roofless. After a tree came crashing down on the innocent home, the residents were devastated. In stepped the Noroton Volunteer Fire Department.

In their time of need, the department was there to help, to clean up the damage and put a tarp over the home that had suddenly become an open-air house.

What is sometimes lost in the duties of a fire department, in addition to the conservation of life, is the preservation of property.

“Property is important to people, and we’re always there to save property in addition to lives,” Jim O’Brien, the department’s second assistant chief, said.

Just as the department keys on preserving its townspeople’s property, it too looks to do the same. The department is set to begin the second year of its capital campaign, hoping to raise a total of $1 million to finance a much-needed expansion of the firehouse.

The plan calls for the addition of much needed square footage to the existing building that is more than 50 years old. It will extend the portion of the building that was added in the 1970s, as well as put an additional level over the structure to make it a two-story facility.

The firehouse also serves as a town shelter, something O’Brien, who is the chairman of the capital campaign committee, thinks is as important a part of the building as anything else. In order to be an adequate shelter, it has to be updated to today’s standards. Right now, he said, it is too outdated and too small.

Fire Chief Mike Vitti said it might be hard for people to contribute to something  they can’t see in the works, but they don’t want to begin construction without a majority of the money raised. He said they hope to begin renovating in the spring.

“We’re trying to re-energize the campaign,” he said. “We haven’t come as far as we would have liked, but that just means we have to work harder.”

While the department is still looking to continue to raise money, it doesn’t want to discount those that have already donated, citing one especially generous donor, Dennis Weatherstone. The Beach Drive resident pleasantly surprised the department with his contribution, and for his donation he was given a white fire helmet, engraved with his name and the word “hero.”

The capital campaign has five donation levels, from $500 (Friends of the Noroton Fire Department) to $25,000 (Chief’s Circle). Donors exceeding the highest level will achieve hero status and receive a helmet. All donors will have their names engraved on a plaque, which will be placed inside the new facility.

“The departments in town probably don’t get the recognition they deserve,” Weatherstone said. “When I heard about the campaign, I was very supportive and I tried to help as much as I could.”

Weatherstone also said he loves the helmet and is very proud of it. It’s going in with our other trophies and awards, he said.

More information about how to donate to the department’s capital campaign can be found at norotonfd.org.


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