Shake-Up Rocks Fire Department In Norwich; Volunteer Fire Co. Shuttered

NORWICH, CT — A fire department restructuring is impacting volunteer operations in Yantic, where a volunteer fire company was shuttered as of Tuesday.

While city officials say the change will improve emergency coverage, volunteer company leaders say they fear a negative impact on public safety.

The Norwich Fire Service announced Tuesday that emergency and fire response coverage for the Yantic service area will now fall under the direction of the fire chief.

Yantic is a section of Norwich which has received coverage from the volunteer Yantic Fire Engine Co. No. 1.

Leaders with the Yantic fire company indicated in an announcement on Facebook Tuesday that its operations have been shuttered.

The fire department said it has implemented a “temporary administrative operational adjustment” to emergency fire service coverage in the Yantic service area.

Effective immediately, emergency response coverage for the Yantic area has been reassigned through the Norwich Fire Department Unified Command Structure, under the direction of the fire chief, the department’s announcement said.

The change follows the city’s review of “ongoing operational and administrative concerns involving service delivery, unified command coordination, and adherence to established safety and response standards,” the announcement said.

According to the news release, the decision was made to protect public safety and ensure reliable emergency response services. The fire department indicated extensive contingency planning was done before the change to make sure there is uninterrupted emergency coverage.

The department asserts the change “maintains service continuity,” and will mean additional staffing resources, enhanced apparatus availability, and strengthened response coordination.

According to the fire department, emergency services remain fully operational, and there is no change in how emergency assistance is requested. Residents should continue to dial 911 during emergencies.

“The safety of our community will always be our highest priority,” the announcement said. “While administrative adjustments are sometimes necessary, our focus remains on providing dependable, professional emergency services. We are optimistic that constructive dialogue and collaboration will allow this matter to be resolved, and we view this operational change as a temporary step toward achieving stronger, more sustainable emergency service delivery.”

Meanwhile, leadership at the volunteer Yantic Fire Engine. Co. No. 1 reported that their attorney received a demand from the city Monday night that they had to sign a “fire and emergency services agreement,” by 10 a.m. Tuesday morning or be shuttered.

This didn’t leave enough time to review and respond to the proposal, or to get required input from volunteer members, the Yantic fire company’s Facebook post said.

According to the Yantic fire company, its volunteers have been serving the community since 1847, and in 2025 alone, they responded to 772 emergency calls.

The Yantic fire company’s Facebook post says they fear the city and fire chief’s actions will “only jeopardize public safety.” It claims officials “have left us with no alternative but to seek legal redress for their wrongdoing in the pursuit of resuming public safety.”

Officials did not immediately return phone calls seeking additional comment and details Tuesday.