Officials Sign the Final Piece of the Norwalk Fire House Framework

The final piece of steel structural support for the Norwalk Fire House framework was hoisted into place Tuesday afternoon after Stamford Fire Department Chief Denis McCarthy, Mayor Richard Moccia and other officials signed the piece.

Well wishes were logged onto the beam that now hangs over where the eventual pedestrian entryway into the building will be placed. The symbolic "Topping Out" is just the first milestone of many to come before the firehouse opens, McCarthy said.

"From this point, we've still got to complete all the insulation, exterior masonry and brickwork," the chief said. "It's taken about a month-and-a-half to complete the steel frame."

McCarthy said the building was desperately needed for a growing fleet in a growing city that had previously been working out of an antiquated building formerly on the footprint where the new building stands. 

"It was built in 1964 and it had deteriorated pretty significantly in that time," McCarthy said. "There were no attributes of a modern building. There was no meeting space. Our bays were smaller than the equipment we were using."

The new building, when completed, will have adequate space to do all that plus more, including training rooms, a living area, administrative offices and offices for the fire marshal, McCarthy said.

"This represents the future of the fire department in the City of Norwalk," McCarthy said.

The mayor expressed gratitude to all parties involved in the progress of the building and said it was just some steel they were throwing together.

"It's not just a building for the fire department in the city, but doing something you should be proud of. Thank you so much for all your effort." Moccia said