Fire Department in Deep River, Connecticut, Proposes $3.85 Million Renovation

Firehouse Would Include a Training Room

DEEP RIVER - Over 50 residents attended the Sept. 17 public hearing to get information and voice concerns about a $3.85 million proposal to renovate and expand the Deep River Fire Headquarters at the corner of Union and Elm Streets.

Bob Raymond, DRFD Assistant Fire Chief and Building Committee Chairman, said that the primary need for the project is for the department to have a training room. 

The training room would provide space for Deep River firefighters to receive departmental training and could be used for regionalized training classes that could be attended by firefighters from surrounding towns.

Currently, Raymond said firefighters often must commute 45 miles to Willimantic to attend required weekend training classes.

While the department has hosted seminars at schools in town, Raymond said this is not cost-effective unless there are more than 110 attendees since the schools charge the department rental costs to pay for janitorial services.

When the department does host in-house meetings, staff must move fire trucks out of the apparatus room and move them back in after the meeting.
"We have lost people because of non-emergency work," Raymond said, referring to those efforts.

Raymond said the creation of a 1,660 square foot training room with the capacity for 110 people would allow the department to host a variety of training classes and charge other departments to attend these classes.

Also, Raymond noted, civic organizations could use the space since it will have its own entrance and be separate from the apparatus room.

Other services expected to be on the first floor include a relocated Emergency Operations Center, which is currently in the basement of town hall, in addition to a radio room, restrooms and shower rooms.

Raymond said the relocation of offices would allow more space for storage of emergency vehicles in the apparatus room.

Several offices including those of the chief, deputy chief, and fire marshal would be located on the second floor, Raymond said.

Additionally, the second floor is expected to house a fitness room, conference room, lounge, and undesignated space for future use.