Fire company moves to its new station

KENT —It took 97 years for the Kent Volunteer Fire Department to get all its fire and emergency equipment under one roof. The department, which was founded in 1911, officially opened its new fire house at 28 Maple St. on Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration of firefighters and firefighting.

Before the ceremony began, firefighters were vacuuming and cleaning up their new facility. Some volunteers scurried to find their red fire company shirts just before the ceremony.

"We are all extremely excited, this has been a very long time in the making," Fire Chief Eric Epstein said. "The new station is at least 500 square feet bigger than our previous fire station. We will now have the space to house all our equipment in one building."

The new facility has a large apparatus bay to hold fire trucks and emergency equipment, a radio room, a responder area, a meeting room and even a lounge with a plush sofa and a high-definition television set.

"This is certainly different from the way things were many years ago," veteran firefighter Minot Giddings said as he and his wife, Barbara, enjoyed some time in the lounge before the ceremony. "This is a nice firehouse, the old one on Main Street was way too small. That and we never had a sofa like this in our old firehouse!"

There are artifacts and photos from the department’s history throughout the building.

"It’s great to see things when we were all 20 years younger," firefighter Ane Starr said as she looked at pictures with her sister, Kathy McCann. "This facility is a masterpiece."

Volunteer Jeff Ballard said, "The old firehouse could only hold three pumper trucks, the rest of the equipment was scattered all around town. We’ve been waiting a long time for this to happen."

At around 11 a.m., with an audience of more than 200 people gathered in the firehouse parking lot, the department’s emergency vehicles paraded down Main Street from the old firehouse to the new one. The firefighters marched in formation to the podium. Debbie Bain sang the national anthem as the flag was raised for the first time at the firehouse.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell attended the ceremony, and said that people across the state owe a great debt to firefighters.

"What we get to celebrate today is not just this new building, but the whole idea of volunteerism," Rell said, "those people who step up to the plate and offer their time in times of need. Volunteerism is what really drives people and what serves people in the community. For 97 years, this department has served its community with distinction."

Fire company President Jean Speck said she is grateful that state officials support emergency service teams, no matter how big or how small.

"We are tiny little towns and we don’t have loud voices here in the woods," Speck said. "To have state representatives hear us means a lot to us."

First Selectman Ruth Epstein said it was a proud day for Kent.

"When I look at this building, I see more than the proverbial bricks and mortar," Epstein said. "I see hours of dedication put into several building committees. I see a home where [the emergency department] can selflessly continue to serve the community."

At the end of the ceremony, Rell cut the ribbon and residents lined up to get a tour of the new building.

While the building is officially open, Ballard said the department will have to wait a little while longer before moving all the equipment in.

"We are still waiting for the contractor to finish the epoxy floor for the garage," he explained. "Once it’s all done, we’re in."

Pumpkin Run and Fun Run are Oct. 26