Firehouse Upgrades to Comply with Fire Code

The doors in the New Canaan firehouse's stairwell are being replaced this week.

Fire Marshal Fred Baker suspects the doors dated back to when the firehouse was built on Main Street in 1938 and had long since fallen out of compliance with the fire code.

Baker says he didn't have to cite the Fire Department for a fire code violation. During one of his frequent visits to the firehouse, which is across the street from his office in Town Hall, the department volunteered to use some surplus funds to replace the old doors.

Some might think it unnecessary to worry about fire safety in the firehouse with the firefighters being so close at hand but, says Baker, "they're not always there. They go out on call."

The new doors are rated to resist fire for up to an hour, meeting the requirement for enclosed exits connecting three or fewer floors.

A new fire alarm system was installed in the firehouse last year.