By Corey Sipe
The Chronicle
WILLINGTON, Conn. — Two Willington fire departments and the Mansfield Fire Department were recently notified by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, DEEP they received grants for dry hydrants.
A total of eight fire departments throughout Connecticut received grant money that totaled $20,000, with each department receiving between $1,500 and $4,500.
DEEP’s Division of Forestry administers these funds that come from the U.S. Forest Service’s state fire assistance program.
The program has provided funding for 250 dry hydrant installations for local fire departments throughout Connecticut since 2001.
These dry hydrants provide a water supply when pressurized fire hydrants are not available or when additional water is needed to fight large and/or difficult fires. They are similar to standpipes, attached to a static water supply such as a pond or well.
The Mansfield Fire Department received $3,000, the Willington Fire Department #1 received $3,000 and the Willington Hill Fire Department received $1,500.
Chief David Dagon, of the Mansfield Fire Department, said the town currently has 11 dry hydrants and grant funds will allow the purchase of two more.
“We really appreciate being considered for this award,” Dagon said.
The Mansfield Fire Department has three firehouses in town including Station 107 at 879 Stafford Road (Route 32), Station 207 at 1722 Storrs Road (Route 195), and Station 307 at 999 Storrs Road.
Chief Alex Moore, from Willington Fire Department #1, said that his department will work with the Willington Hill Fire Department to ensure funds will be used for new dry hydrants on both sides of town.
Together, the two fire departments will be able to purchase three more dry hydrants with the grant money they received.
“It will be great. We don’t have municipal water, so anytime we can increase the number of dry hydrants and the state can help us out, it takes the burden off the taxpayers,” Moore said.
Willington only has three pressurized hydrants, he said, adding that the rest of town use dry hydrants to fight fires or firefighters must pump water in from ponds.
Willington Fire Department #1 operates two stations in town: Station 13 on Route 32 near Interstate 84 Exit 71 and Station 213 at the intersection of Route 32 and Depot Road.
Willington Hill Fire Department operates one station in town, Station 49, located at 24 Old Farms Road near the Willington Town Office Building.
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