By Alison Cross
The Day
DANIELSON, Conn. — The Borough of Danielson is looking to rebuild its fire service under a new leader after a wave of resignations and retirements depleted the department’s ranks.
On Monday, new Interim Fire Chief Keven McNeill outlined a 100-day recovery plan for the Danielson Fire Department that includes targeted efforts to boost morale, amplify recruitment, improve emergency readiness, increase medical training and cultivate a culture of transparency.
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With 15 volunteers left in the fire department, the Borough Council invited the remaining members and the public to attend an open discussion on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the fire station, “to come together in a spirit of cooperation to discuss current challenges, identify solutions, and strengthen their shared commitment to moving forward.”
The Borough Council unanimously appointed McNeill on Thursday to replace previous Interim Fire Chief Jason Burgess, who left the department last week, along with 15 other volunteers, following a dispute over the borough’s search for a new fire chief.
The retirements and resignations come roughly a month after controversy erupted over the council’s decision to open the fire chief search to non-department members after turning down Burgess, Deputy Chief Ryan Kelleher and two other volunteers for the role.
Of the 15 volunteers who remain, McNeil said four are certified interior firefighters, five have an Emergency Medical Services certification, six are certified drivers and seven volunteers are certified for scene support. As of Monday, McNeill said the department had three applicants awaiting interviews to fill vacancies in the department.
While McNeill said “morale is extremely low within this agency,” he said the remaining members are also “highly motivated” to rebuild. He said one of his top priorities is rebuilding trust with volunteers, the public and the Borough Council.
“For the first time in a long time, we’re all coming together to try to reform this department,” McNeill said.
“We’re going to work with the Borough Council to make things better and to revive this agency,” McNeill said. “A lot of members are very emotional right now over this. They are struggling with this transition. There’s a lot of finger-pointing and blame being attached to (areas) where maybe it’s warranted, maybe it’s not. But I think overall, I want my members to act professional with the council, and I also want their voice to be heard. And the council wants this too.”
McNeill is the current president and CEO of the Quiet Corner Peer Support Group — a nonprofit dedicated to addressing and treating the mental health challenges first responders face.
McNeill served 19 years as a police officer and has been a firefighter for 16 years. Before assuming the role of interim fire chief, McNeill said he was an active member of the South Killingly Fire Department. Years ago, McNeill said, he participated in a dual membership program between the Danielson and South Killingly Fire Departments.
In a statement on Thursday, the Borough Council said it had full confidence in McNeill’s “leadership, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to the well-being of Department members.”
“The council looks forward to working collaboratively with him as the Danielson Fire Department enters a new chapter focused on stability, unity, and continued service to the community,” the Borough Council said.
News of the resignations left many residents worried about how the depleted fire department would continue to serve the 4,000 residents of the 1.1-square-mile borough. Some criticized the firefighters for abandoning the community, while others placed the blame on the borough council for pushing away volunteers.
McNeill said the department has established an automatic aid clause with the town’s fire chiefs to ensure that Danielson firefighters will receive assistance from surrounding fire districts as an “extra layer of protection to the community.”
McNeill said the department is asking everyone in the community to support the department’s efforts to rebuild. He said the department will continue to post updates regarding recovery efforts on the new Danielson Fire Department - Station 61 Facebook page.
“There’s a lot of controversy on social media, and I just hope people get behind us,” McNeill said. “We’re not going to point fingers in anybody’s direction as to the fault of the falling of the Danielson Fire Department . We just want a fresh start, and we want to move forward, and we want to build it back with the community’s support.”
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