Rep. Coutu Hails Move to Protect Fire School Training Facility

Hartford- Representative Coutu (R- Norwich) hailed the Bond Commission’s authorization of $500,000 to acquire property that hosts the Eastern Connecticut’s Fire School training facility.

This property, located at 34 Lafayette Street in Willimantic, has been leased for more than five decades and is home to the only firefighter training facility east of the Connecticut River. The owner of the property recently passed away creating concern the property would be sold and the training facility forced out.

“I’m thrilled we are able to acquire this land and preserve the firefighter training facility that is so necessary to the region,’ said Coutu.

“One of the core functions of government is to provide public safety- if we lose this facility we lose the only Firefighter training center in eastern Connecticut. That just isn’t an option.”

Coutu, a volunteer firefighter in Norwich, said today was a culmination of bi-partisan letters and conversations he had with the Governor’s office to voice his support of this project.