Stamford Volunteer Fire Departments Sue to Challenge Consolidation

Three volunteer fire departments in Stamford, Connecticut have filed suit to challenge the city’s efforts to consolidate them into a single, unified fire department that includes the city’s career firefighters.

The three departments, Turn of River, Long Ridge and Springdale Volunteer Fire Departments, are seeking to challenge the validity of recent charter changes adopted last November by the voters. The suit was filed last month in Superior Court.

Attorney Mark Kovack, who represents the three plaintiff departments, was quoted by the Stamford Advocate as saying “We do have bona fide, serious legal reservations as to whether the changes are constitutional… If the changes, all or some or part, are found to be unlawful … then we would ask the court to declare those particular amendments legally null and void.”

Two other volunteer fire departments in Stamford, Belltown and Glenbrook VFDs, opted not to join the suit.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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