Politics & Government
Ridgefield Public Safety Panel Reviews Fire Station Needs And Facility Options
Just how 'broken' is it? Ridgefield's public safety panel reviewed fire station needs, response times and facility options June 11.
RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Public Safety Facilities Committee on June 11 reviewed the Ridgefield Fire Department’s operational needs as members continued studying options for new or renovated public safety facilities.
No final recommendation was made on a site or building plan. The committee voted to table several agenda items, including Tiger Team updates and public engagement timelines, until a future meeting so members could continue discussion with fire officials and consultants. The motion passed unanimously.
Fire Chief Rommie Duckworth told the committee that facility design directly affects emergency response times, firefighter safety and daily operations. He said the department’s current headquarters creates delays because of limited parking, cramped apparatus bays, stacked vehicles and poor internal circulation.
Duckworth said firefighters and volunteers often must navigate tight spaces, multiple doors and limited gear storage before responding to calls. He said the department also lacks adequate separation between contaminated and clean areas after fire calls, raising concerns about exposure to toxins and carcinogens carried on turnout gear.
Committee members also discussed how station location affects response. Duckworth said Ridgefield’s winding roads, hills and limited routes make central location important, particularly for reaching higher-density areas and emergency call “hotspots.” He said traffic is a factor, but road configuration and distance are larger challenges in some parts of town.
The committee reviewed national fire service standards, including National Fire Protection Association guidance for combination fire departments, which include both career and volunteer firefighters. Duckworth said Ridgefield uses those standards as guidance while also considering local response patterns and Insurance Services Office ratings.
Much of the discussion focused on whether the town could design a facility that meets core fire department needs while remaining financially and politically viable for voters. Committee members said the town has limited available land, and some potential sites may involve privately owned property, zoning issues, wetlands or other constraints.
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Committee Chair Wally Martinez said the panel should look for creative solutions that meet operational needs without assuming the town must build the largest possible facility. He said any proposal will need to be clear enough for voters to understand and support.
"It's broken. It's broken!" Martinez said. "It is broken. When you see the female firefighter inflate an inflatable mattress in the old comms room just so she can sleep, and get some privacy? It's broken."
Consultants from Kaestle Boos Associates also discussed fire station design considerations, including apparatus bay size, drainage, exhaust capture, heated floors, vehicle flow, gear storage and emergency turnout time. They said modern fire facilities are designed to support rapid deployment while limiting contamination and improving safety.
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Members also discussed whether a facility could be designed with future expansion in mind. Consultants said expansion can be planned for, but the town would need enough land and would still have to account for future building codes and structural requirements.
The panel adjourned after agreeing that several major discussions, including privately owned real property and additional Tiger Team work, would continue at future meetings.
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