EIFC Secures State Funding for Fire Station Upgrades

EASTFORD — State Rep. Pat Boyd (D-Pomfret) announced on Sept. 4 that the Eastford independent Fire Co. has secured $75,000 in state funding during the 2025 Legislative Session. The Connecticut General Assembly approved this funding as part of the 2026-2027 State Budget.

The funding was allocated to the Eastford Independent Fire Co. for the 2026 Fiscal Year and will be used for necessary repairs and upgrades to the firehouse. This funding is a line item in the State Budget as part of a larger $647,000 approved for Fiscal Year 2026, allocated to various police and fire departments across the state. The line item was included in the biennial State Budget at the request of Boyd, who serves as House Chairman of the Public Safety & Security Committee.

“The upgrades and repairs to the Eastford Independent Fire [Co.] are essential to ensure the fire department can continue to operate in the building and first responders have access to the resources they need to help residents,” Boyd said in a press release. “Things are different in rural areas, and state assistance is welcomed. I am thrilled to see this funding included in the State Budget, approved by the General Assembly this year and signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. It is important we continue to provide the necessary funding like this in the Quiet Corner to assist towns.”

Eastford Independent Fire Co. President James Roy outlined some of the concerns this state funding will address.

“This year, the fire department has been faced with crucial structural repairs to the exterior of our building,” Roy said. “In an attempt to replace our outdated windows with energy-efficient upgrades, we found significant wood rot around the windows and the wall studs. Upon further inspection by licensed contractors, it was determined that to fix the problem, it would require removing all the vinyl siding, repairing the rotted studs and window frames, and fixing insulation that is either missing or water-damaged. In the process of this, we will upgrade any exposed electrical, and complete the project by replacing all the exterior vinyl siding.”

EIFC Chief Doug Beaudoin expressed his appreciation for the funding.

“Thanks to the funding [Boyd] secured for the EIFC, we will be able to replace the siding, insulation, and windows — critical improvements that will enhance the efficiency and condition of our facility,” Beaudoin said. “We would not have been able to afford these upgrades without his help. We are truly grateful for his continued support of the Quiet Corner emergency services.”