Established 1659
City of Norwich
Connecticut
JOHN SALOMONE CITY MANAGER (860) 823-3750 | 100 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 Fax (860) 885-2131 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2026
City of Norwich Releases New Data Showing Improved Emergency
Response Times Under Unified Command
City Officials Reaffirm Goal of Integrating All Volunteer Departments
as Part of Permanent Ongoing Operations
Norwich, Conn. – The City of Norwich today released new emergency response data for the Yantic district, demonstrating that the use of a unified command structure significantly decreases response times and increases the level of medical and fire expertise on the scene of emergencies.
Since the Norwich Fire Department (NFD) began directly managing response in the Yantic area, the average response time for Engine 4 has dropped to 5.6 minutes. This represents a significant improvement over previous averages, which frequently ranged between 7 and 11 minutes for similar calls. Specific performance comparisons include:
79 Sturtevant St (EMS): NFD responded in 2 minutes, compared to the previous average of 8 minutes.
70 Woodrow Ave (EMS): NFD responded in 5 minutes, compared to the previous average of 9.6 minutes.
16 Huntington Ln (EMS): NFD responded in 7 minutes, compared to the previous average of 11 minutes.
12 Case St (Gas Leak): NFD responded in 5 minutes with 10 interior-qualified personnel; a previous similar call saw a 9-minute response.
"The data is clear: our current operations are delivering faster, more effective coverage to the residents of Norwich," said Fire Chief Samuel Wilson. "By directly managing these responses, we are ensuring that every call is met with the highest professional standards of care and speed. This is exactly why we are committed to a unified command agreement—it is the only way to guarantee this level of safety across the entire city."
Chief Wilson emphasized that while the current system is performing at a high level, the City's goal is to integrate volunteers back into this professionalized framework.
"I remain firm in my belief that volunteerism is a critical component of fire and EMS service in the City of Norwich," Wilson said. "Volunteers bring history, dedication, and community connection that cannot be replaced. Our objective is to support and get the most out of our volunteers by making them part of a robust, unified fire response system."
The City has already provided a contract to the volunteer departments that would allow them to resume operations as early as tomorrow, provided they agree to the unified command and safety benchmarks required by the City Charter. This structure ensures there is a single, clear line of authority at fire scenes to prevent the confusion and safety violations that occurred in the past.
City Manager John Salomone added that the move toward a unified structure is as much about fiscal responsibility as it is about safety. "We are eliminating redundancies that have cost taxpayers millions while simultaneously improving the service those taxpayers rely on," Salomone said. "We are ready to welcome our volunteers back into service the moment they agree to meet these professional standards."
Please find full reference data below:
79 Sturtevant St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/10/26 | NFD | 1341 | 1343 | 2:00 | 3 |
1/27/26 | YANTIC | 1409 | 1416 | 7:00 | 1 |
1/2/26 | YANTIC | 1631 | 1639 | 8:00 | 1 |
1/2/26 | YANTIC | 0259 | 0306 | 7:00 | 1 |
1/1/26 | YANTIC | 1533 | 1538 | 5:00 | 3* |
12/15/25 | YANTIC | 0246 | 0258 | 12:00 | 0 |
12/14/25 | YANTIC | 1912 | 1920 | 8:00 | 0 |
Report indicates 7 people responding in POV
Yantic average time to scene: 8 minutes
275 Otrobando Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/26/26 | NFD | 1120 | 1124 | 4:00 | 3 |
2/10/26 | NFD | 1432 | 1437 | 5:00 | 3 |
12/25/25 | YANTIC | 1228 | 1231 | 3:00 | 1 |
11/4/25 | YANTIC | 1419 | 1426 | 7:00 | 0 |
10/24/25 | YANTIC | 0658 | 0709 | 11:00 | 0 |
Yantic Average time to scene: 7 minutes
41 Wawecus St Fire Alarm
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/10/26 | NFD | 0713 | 0718 | 5:00 | 3 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
12/29/25* | YANTIC | 1117 | 1127 | 10:00 | 2 E | 4 |
*Comparable address (79 Wawecus) and same incident type
Yantic Average time to scene: 10 minutes
3 Myrtle Dr EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 1912 | 1920 | 8:00 | 3 |
2/12/26 | NFD | 1050 | 1055 | 5:00 | 3 |
2/13/26 | NFD | 0607 | 0613 | 6:00 | 3 |
2/17/26 | NFD | 0851 | 0856 | 5:00 | 3 |
1/21/26 | YANTIC | 2049 | 2055 | 6:00 | 2 |
1/15/26 | YANTIC | 1738 | 1742 | 4:00 | 1 |
1/13/26 | YANTIC | 1651 | 1659 | 8:00 | 1 |
11/3/25 | YANTIC | 1039 | 1044 | 5:00 | 1 |
10/31/25 | YANTIC | 2239 | 2249 | 10:00 | 1 |
10/11/25 | YANTIC | 1322 | 1331 | 9:00 | 0 |
9/29/25 | YANTIC | 1054 | 1056 | 2:00 | 1 |
9/20/25 | YANTIC | 0049 | 0100 | 11:00 | 0 |
8/23/25 | YANTIC | 1243 | 1254 | 7:00 | 1 |
7/20/25 | YANTIC | 2300 | 2309 | 9:00 | 0 |
7/11/25 | YANTIC | 0723 | 0732 | 9:00 | 0 |
Yantic average time to scene: 7 minutes
12 Case St Gas Leak
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/14/26 | NFD | 0809 | 0814 | 5:00 | 3 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
08/21/25 | YANTIC | 1150 | 1159 | 9:00 | 3 E | 9 |
Yantic average time to scene: 9 minutes
150 Vergason St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/14/26 | NFD | 1612 | 1618 | 6:00 | 3 |
2/1/26* | YANTIC | 0752 | 0759 | 7:00 | 1 |
1/18/26* | YANTIC | 1311 | 1319 | 8:00 | 1 |
12/27/25* | YANTIC | 1356 | 1407 | 11:00 | 1 |
10/15/25* | YANTIC | 0617 | 0627 | 10:00 | 0 |
10/3/25* | YANTIC | 1026 | 1030 | 4:00 | 0 |
9/7/25* | YANTIC | 1711 | 1719 | 8:00 | 1 |
*Comparable address Yantic average time to scene: 8 minutes
5 Wisconsin Ave Gas Leak
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/16/26 | NFD | 0935 | 0941 | 6:00 | 3 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
1/2/26* | YANTIC | 1055 | 1105 | 10:00 | 2 E 1SQ | 7 |
*Comparable address (1 Wisconsin) and same incident type
Yantic Average time to scene: 10 minutes
15 Wisconsin Ave Odor Investigation
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/16/26 | NFD | 0831 | 0837 | 6:00 | 3 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
No comparable incident type with same address.
25 Otrobando Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/16/26 | NFD | 1344 | 1347 | 3:00 | 3 |
8/29/25* | YANTIC | 1432 | 1438 | 6:00 | 0 |
5/23/25* | YANTIC | 1016 | 1023 | 7:00 | 1 |
5/18/25* | YANTIC | 1949 | 1953 | 11:00 | 1 |
*Comparable address ( 0-100 Otrobando Ave) and same incident type
Yantic Average time to scene: 8 minutes
204 Sturtevant St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/16/26 | NFD | 0928 | 09:32 | 4:00 | 3 |
70 Woodrow Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/26/26 | NFD | 1106 | 11:11 | 5:00 | 3 |
1/19/26 | Yantic | 0214 | 02:26 | 12:00 | 1 |
10/18/26* | Yantic | 2045 | 2054 | 9:00 | 2 |
6/27/2025* | Yantic | 1810 | 1818 | 8:00 | 2 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9.6 minutes
28 Montgomery Ln EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/25/26 | NFD | 2344 | 2353 | 7:00 | 3 |
9/20/25* | Yantic | 2338 | 2349 | 9:00 | 0 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9 minutes
213 West Town St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/17/26 | NFD | 1453 | 1456 | 3:00 | 3 |
2/25/26 | NFD | 1518 | 1523 | 6:00 | 3 |
2/7/26 | Yantic | 2117 | 2122 | 5:00 | 1 |
11/16/25 | Yantic | 0209 | 0220 | 11:00 | 0 |
11/8/25 | Yantic | 1326 | 1330 | 4:00 | 0 |
10/18/25 | Yantic | 1310 | 1318 | 8:00 | 0 |
9/22/25 | Yantic | 1837 | 1842 | 5:00 | 1 |
9/18/26 | Yantic | 1834 | 1839 | 5:00 | 2 |
9/6/25 | Yantic | 1241 | 1249 | 8:00 | 2 |
5/4/25 | Yantic | 1926 | 1933 | 7:00 | 1 |
3/11/25 | Yantic | 1022 | 1026 | 4:00 | 2 |
Average Yantic response time: 6 minutes
275 Washington St EMS/MVA
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/25/26 | NFD | 0821 | 0826 | 5:00 | 3 |
11/24/25 | Yantic | 1712 | 1716 | 4:00 | 4 |
6/27/25 | Yantic | 1337 | 1346 | 9:00 | 2 |
3/22/25 | Yantic | 1406 | 1415 | 9:00 | 0 |
Average Yantic response time: 7 minutes
16 Huntington Ln EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/25/26 | NFD | 0158 | 0205 | 7:00 | 3 |
1/4/26* | Yantic | 0257 | 0308 | 11:00 | 0 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 11 minutes
222 Otrobando Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 1624 | 1630 | 6:00 | 3 |
East Town St MVA
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 1503 | 1508 | 5:00 | 3 |
3/28/25 | Yantic | 1443 | 1451 | 8:00 | 1 |
Average Yantic response time: 8 minutes
60 Clinton Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 1021 | 1022 | 1:00 | 3 |
10/17/25* | Yantic | 1514 | 1517 | 3:00 | 2 |
10/2/25* | Yantic | 1057 | 1103 | 6:00 | 1 |
9/20/25* | Yantic | 1307 | 1315 | 8:00 | 0 |
4/5/25* | Yantic | 1645 | 1651 | 6:00 | 2 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 6 minutes
16 Cottonwood EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 0725 | 0733 | 7:00 | 3 |
7/26/25* | Yantic | 1723 | 1731 | 8:00 | 1 |
** Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 8 minutes
107 Browning Rd EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/23/26 | NFD | 1954 | 2003 | 9:00 | 3 |
2/3/26* | Yantic | 0442 | 0455 | 13:00 | 2 |
12/27/25* | Yantic | 1714 | 1722 | 8:00 | 2 |
12/10/25* | Yantic | 2003 | 2011 | 7:00 | 1 |
9/7/25* | Yantic | 0002 | 0012 | 10:00 | 1 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9.5 minutes
17 Case St Gas leak *Snowstorm
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/23/26 | NFD | 1029 | 10:40 | 11:00 | 2 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
19 Brookside Dr EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 1130 | 1135 | 5:00 | 3 |
189 W Town EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 2146 | 2152 | 6:00 | 3 |
2/7/26* | Yantic | 2117 | 2122 | 5:00 | 1 |
1/24/26* | Yantic | 0821 | 0836 | 15:00 | 3 |
12/20/25* | Yantic | 1025 | 1031 | 6:00 | 0 |
11/16/25* | Yantic | 0209 | 0220 | 11:00 | 0 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9 minutes
5 Town St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/24/26 | NFD | 2221 | 2226 | 5:00 | 3 |
10/18/25 | Yantic | 1720 | 1730 | 10:00 | 1 |
Average Yantic response time: 10 minutes
93 W Town St fire alarm
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/21/26 | NFD | 2146 | 2152 | 6:00 | 2 E, 1 TR, 1 BC | 10 |
89 W Town St CO alarm
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/19/26 | NFD | 1541 | 1546 | 5:00 | 2 E, 1 1 BC | 7 |
6/26/25* | Yantic | 0834 | 0839 | 4:00 | 2 E, POV | 2 |
** Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 4 minutes
20 Greenwich Ct Structure Fire
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | APPARATUS | INTERIOR QUALIFIED |
2/19/26 | NFD | 2216 | 2224 | 8:00 | 4E, 1T 1 BC, 1 SO | 17 |
7 Woodrow Ave EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED | ||||||
2/19/26 | NFD | 1236 | 1240 | 4:00 | 3 | ||||||
1/19/26* | Yantic | 0214 | 02:26 | 12:00 | 1 | ||||||
10/18/26* | Yantic | 2045 | 2054 | 9:00 | 2 | ||||||
6/27/2025* | Yantic | 1810 | 1818 | 8:00 | 1 | ||||||
* Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9.6 minutes
100 Sturtevant St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/18/25 | NFD | 2332 | 2338 | 6:00 | 3 |
1/27/26* | YANTIC | 1409 | 1416 | 7:00 | 1 |
1/2/26* | YANTIC | 1631 | 1639 | 8:00 | 1 |
1/2/26* | YANTIC | 0259 | 0306 | 7:00 | 4** |
1/1/26* | YANTIC | 1533 | 1538 | 5:00 | 1 |
12/15/25* | YANTIC | 0246 | 0258 | 12:00 | 1 |
12/14/25* | YANTIC | 1912 | 1920 | 8:00 | 1 |
* Comparable address ** 7 people in POV to scene
Average Yantic response time: 8 minutes
6 Gifford St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED | |
2/18/26 | NFD | 1753 | 1803 | 10:00 | 3 | |
11/27/25* | Yantic | 1316 | 1322 | 6:00 | 2 | |
6/29/25* | Yantic | 809 | 819 | 10:00 | 1 | |
5/16/25* | Yantic | 1458 | 1502 | 4:00 | 2 | |
3/28/25* | Yantic | 1937 | 1942 | 5:00 | 0 | |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 6 minutes
54 Sunnyside St EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/18/26 | NFD | 841 | 847 | 6:00 | 3 |
1/5/26* | Yantic | 558 | 607 | 9:00 | 2 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 9 minutes
35 Knollcrest EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/17/26 | NFD | 1944 | 1952 | 8:00 | 3 |
1/5/26* | Yantic | 558 | 607 | 9:00 | 0 |
8/28/26* | Yantic | 1651 | 1959 | 8:00 | 1 |
*Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 8.5 minutes
83 Oxford Dr EMS
DATE | DEPT | DISPATCHED | ON SCENE | TOTAL TIME | MEDICAL QUALIFIED |
2/17/26 | NFD | 927 | 931 | 4:00 | 3 |
10/20/25* | Yantic | 1404 | 1410 | 6:00 | 0 |
4/11/25* | Yantic | 1331 | 1337 | 6:00 | 1 |
4/7/25* | Yantic | 751 | 754 | 3:00 | 2 |
3/16/25* | Yantic | 608 | 619 | 11:00 | 1 |
** Comparable address
Average Yantic response time: 6.5 minutes
Overall Engine 4 average response time is 5.6 minutes