The Noroton Heights Fire Department celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003. The department has grown from quarters in back of a blacksmith shop with thirteen men and one hand-drawn engine to a two-story brick building with 100 men and women and six pieces of emergency fire apparatus.

Chapter 1 - The Beginning
Chapter 2 - First Two Fires
Chapter 3 - Continued
Chapter 4 - Alarm System
Chapter 5 - Notable Fires of the Past

Chapter 1 - The Beginning
        The very first fire department in Darien was started in January of 1895, what is now the
Darien Fire Department. Shortly after the Noroton Fire Department was started on April 24,
1896. These two departments handled all calls for fires within the Town of Darien. Although
the Town had two fire departments, there were areas where coverage was poor due to the
time it would take for firefighters to arrive. By the time these departments could arrive the
building was usually totally destroyed. One of these areas of slow response was the Noroton
Heights section of Darien.
        The Waterbury Farm fire was a fire which caused much damage because of the long
response time. The farm was later owned by Patrick Darly. After that fire, Mr. Darley, William
Dugdale, the Bennett and Dolan families, and a few other concerned citizens joined together
and formed a fire department of their own that would cover the section of Darien that lacked
adequate fire coverage. On May 12th, 1903, the Noroton Heights Fire Engine Company
Number 1 was formed with thirteen men under the direction of William Dugdale.
        The first firehouse was located in a blacksmith's shop behind Mr. Dugdale's new store.
Later it moved to what was a one-room school house located on Linden Avenue. The
department's main concern was the business area that it covered with coverage extending
to the Town of New Canaan.

Chapter 2 - First Two Fires
        At 10:30 PM on November 25, 1903, the Noroton Heights Fire Department received its
first fire call at the railroad freight house. The fire was under control in ten minutes and was
completely extinguished by 11:15 PM. One of the firemen at the scene said that the building
would have burned completely to the
ground if it weren't for the good work of the engine and the prompt response to the alarm.
The railroad sent a check for fifty dollars and a thank you note to the department for what
they had done. There were approximately eleven members at that fire.
        The second fire was on February 4,1904 at the Stamford Town Hall. Mayor Leeds of the
City of Stamford called for outside assistance. The Noroton Heights Fire Department was
the first out of town department to arrive, followed by Greenwich, Port Chester, and
Bridgeport. The Noroton Heights firemen ran with the gig until a man with a horse caught up
with them. The men hooked the gig to the back of the man's wagon and the firemen road in
the wagon.
        Due to the very extremely cold weather and the faulty charging of the gig's system after
the railroad freight- house, water in the gig's system froze in the pipe connections and
valves. The Noroton Heights firemen could only assist Stamford firefighters with the
equipment that was already there, the gig was out of service.
        After the fire, the Noroton Heights firemen brought the gig back on William Dugdale's
sleigh. The supplies arrived back at the station around 1:30 the next morning.

Chapter 3 - Continued Growth
        As the Noroton Heights Fire Department acquired new equipment and men it was
necessary to find a new place to house this equipment. Land for a new firehouse was
bought in 1916. It was on Hecker Avenue in the area of what is now called Ledge Road.
The members of the fire department at that time purchased the lumber and materials and
built the firehouse themselves.
        When the building was done in 1917, the department purchased its first gas-powered
vehicle. The firemen assembled the vehicle themselves in their new firehouse.
        During the next 56 years the Noroton Heights Fire Department continued to grow. It
gained many new members and more and more equipment. Fund raising events were held
to acquire new trucks and equipment and to improve the firehouse.

        In 1921 the firehouse had electric lights installed. At this time there were twenty-two fire
hydrants installed the the Noroton Heights fire district. In 1922 the department purchased its
first pumper, a 350 gallon Packard, which was in service for fifteen years. A small Reo
house truck in doubtful condition was purchased in 1925. Sometime that year the fire
department also purchased more land next to the firehouse. A Reo ladder truck and an AM
radio for the firemen's' enjoyment was also purchased. In 1933 the department bought a
new Reo hose truck with a Pirsch pump.

        In 1937, the Noroton Heights Fire Department purchased a Seagrave pumper truck.
This same year a Dalmatian mascot, named Major, was acquired. Problem was that he
liked to bite.
        In 1939 the fire department was incorporated and given the official name of "Noroton
Heights Fire Department Incorporated".
        In 1949 a "picture-box" TV was purchased for $435.00. A Seagrave City ladder truck
was obtained and the 1920 Reo ladder truck was sold to the Trumbull Volunteer Fire
Company for $200.00. This was also the same year the a telephone was installed in the
firehouse.
        In 1950 a new Mack pumper was purchased and the 1933 Reo pumper was sold to
Swayerville Fire Company in Pennsylvania for $750.00. The cost of the new Mack pumper
was approximately $8,300.00.

        In 1951 plans to run the Connecticut Turnpike through the Noroton Heights business
district forced the fire department to relocate and build a new firehouse. The Noroton
Heights Fire Department bought its land, where it is presently located, from the Town of
Darien for one-dollar. This same year short-wave radios were also installed in all Darien fire
trucks. In 1954 the new building was complete and the fire department moved to its present
fire house. The dedication and cornerstone ceremonies took place on May 29, 1955.

Construction of the new firehouse

Chapter 4 - Alarm System
        In the very beginning, a brake shoe from a train was used a a fire alarm gong to alert
all the firefighters. In 1922 a whistle was installed which was operated by the telephone
operator. In 1933, the fire whistle was operated by the Darien Police Department. During
1951, all fire trucks in Darien were outfitted with short-wave radios at an estimated cost of
$2,670.00. At first the radios were on the Darien Police frequency, but problems arouse.
One day the Noroton Heights Fire Department had a house fire and the police had a
robbery which caused much confusion and too much radio traffic. It was realized that the
fire departments must go to their own radio frequency.
        Around 1958 or 1959 the members of the Noroton Heights Fire Department received
home radio systems to be alerted to fire calls. A signal was sent over the radio frequency
which alerted these home radios. The police officer, who was the dispatcher, would then
announce the location and type of call that it was. This system was especially useful at
night when the firemen might not hear the whistle or for those who live to far way to hear it.

Chapter 5 - Notable Fires of the Past
        On Sunday, May 16, 1955 a twenty-room, three and one-half story building caught fire
and was destroyed on Hollow Tree Ridge Road. The house was the former estate of the
late John Weed. Which was converted into a convalescent center then the Hollow Tree Inn.
        The building had been unoccupied for about 10 years. It had been scheduled to be torn
down to make way for the Connecticut Turnpike.
        At 9:50 PM the alarm came in and the firemen arrived at the scene. The entire structure
was enveloped in fire. A crowd of about 500 people formed to was the burning building.
Flames could been seen for miles. The Noroton Fire Department was called for mutual aid
to patrol neighboring house.
        The Noroton Heights Fire Department was on scene until 3:00 am in the morning. All
that remained of the building was the first floor and four chimneys.
        On September 28, 1957, the Ox Ridge Hunt Club stables caught fire. One of the
grooms saw the fire and turned in the fire alarm. He then called for assistance to help
getting the horses out of the stable. The Darien Police received the call at 12:02 PM and
dispatched the Darien Fire Department. At 12:10 the Noroton Heights Fire Department
was called and asked to respond to the fire.

       

        Several explosions were reported by spectators. Firemen in cars and trucks had a
difficult time trying to get to the fire because of construction going on and spectators
jamming the road.

Ox Ridge Stable Fire

        The personnel at Ox Ridge were whipping the horses to get them out of the barn.
Horses tend to want to be in their own stables when they are scared, even if it is on fire.
At first all of the horses began to charge the fire trucks and firemen trying to get back into
the stables, but fortunately no one was hurt and the horses were safely lead out onto the f
ield. The Darien Police reported that their switchboard was lit up for hours with the horse
owners trying to find out if their horses were killed in the fire.
        It was estimated that there were over 100 volunteers from Darien's' three departments.