Hazardville Fire District Seeks to Provide Full Time Coverage

Residents of the Hazardville Fire District are being asked to approve a tax increase to support a longstanding need for full time first responder coverage.

Chief Jack Flanagan said the department has been woefully low on volunteers for several years, and commissioners are advocating eight full time positions to enable the department to provide 24/7 coverage.

Hazardville currently has five paid staff, 12 volunteers and three "squad juniors," aged 14-18. In the past, the number of volunteers has been closer to 50.

Commission chairman Philip Thomas said the district has day shift coverage during the week with volunteer support to meet emergencies. The district has put on added paid shifts on weekends to meet quick emergency responses when volunteers are not always available due to the small numbers.

"Our intent is to continue having a combination fire department," Flanagan said. "We are not looking to get rid of the volunteers. I don't know where that started, but that's the perception many people have."

The commission is asking district taxpayers to approve an increase from 2.1 mills to 3.9 mills.

"It's a shock to a lot of citizens because we're going up on our mill rate, but this has been ongoing for many years," Flanagan said.

The district meeting will be held Monday, May 20 at 8 p.m. at the Hazardville Fire Department, 385 Hazard Ave. All residents of the fire district are encouraged to attend and participate.