ANSONIA – In response to a significant decline in volunteer firefighter participation across Connecticut, the Ansonia Fire Department will enact operational changes effective January 1, 2026, aimed at preserving public safety and strengthening department efficiency.

According to a recent statement by Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, “the ranks of volunteer firefighters—who are the first line of fire protection in a majority of Connecticut communities—have shrunk 62.7% since the completion of the last firefighter census in 2017.” Ansonia has not been immune to this troubling trend.

The Westside of Ansonia has experienced the most pronounced impact. Over the last decade, Eastside companies have increasingly supplemented Westside coverage due to dwindling response numbers. Presently, between Charters Hose Co. #4 on Murray Street and Fountain Hose Co. #1 on Howard Avenue, there are just six active interior firefighter members and two driver-only members, contributing to a response rate of less than 30%.

After years of careful evaluation, the Chief, the Deputy Chief, the three Assistant Chiefs, and the Board of Fire Commissioners have unanimously decided to place Engine 1 and Engine 4 out of service as of 12:00 AM on January 1, 2026. This decision—based on operations, response history, and safety considerations—was not made lightly.

Key changes include:

  • Engine 1 will be relocated to Hilltop Hose Company on Pulaski Highway and will serve as a reserve apparatus.
  • The current Engine 4 will be marked for sale, if approved by the board of aldermen, with proceeds earmarked for the acquisition of a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) to support operations along the Riverwalk, Coe Pond, and Ansonia Nature Center.

The department also plans to purchase command vehicles for each of the three Assistant Chiefs. Ansonia remains the only fire department in the area where those chiefs still respond to emergencies in personal vehicles.

  • Charter Hose Co. #4 and Fountain Hose Co. #1 will remain active companies. Their members will continue to train, drill, and serve the city as they always have.

Despite this adjustment, Westside residents will not experience any change in protection coverage. Calls in that area have always been effectively covered by Eastside units and supplemented through mutual aid agreements with Derby and Seymour fire departments.

Our goal is to evolve into one stronger, more efficient fire department—not divided by geography, but united in mission—to better protect and serve the citizens and visitors of Ansonia.

The Ansonia Fire Department reaffirms its commitment to public safety, operational readiness, and adapting to the challenges facing the volunteer fire service.

For additional questions, please contact Chief Jay Fainer at jayfnrch4@att.net.