Fundraising for Live Fire Training Facility Passes Halfway Mark

There’s Still Time to Give the Gift of Fire Training This Holiday

All year, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) and Town of Farmington Fire Department (TFFD) have been raising money for a joint live fire training facility to be built in Farmington. The good news is they are more than halfway to the $1 million needed. Money raised to date totals more than $600,000. The better news? Making a donation to the live fire training facility is a great tax-deductible holiday gift.

“We need a total of $1 million to make this facility a reality,” says Jamie DiPace, AVFD fundraising co-chair and Avon Fire Marshal. “To see how close we’re getting kind of feels like being a kid at Christmas.”

“Every penny helps get us there,” says Mary-Ellen Harper, the Town of Farmington’s Director of Fire & Rescue Services. “And, for those looking to make a last-minute, tax deductible donation before year’s end, we can think of no better cause than helping our firefighters train to do their jobs even better.”

About Fire Training

When it comes to fire training, there’s no such thing as enough. As volunteers who train to the level of career firefighter, members of the AVFD and TFFD are required to recertify at least annually. The AVFD and TFFD are partnering to build a new live fire training facility, allowing members to retain the proficiency of their special skills. Firefighters from both towns will be able to practice and improve their skills in a realistic setting with a more reasonable time commitment, learning how to better protect themselves so they can better protect the residents of Avon and Farmington and their property.

Donations may be made via check made out to the Avon Volunteer Fire Department and mailed to the AVFD at 25 Darling Drive in Avon, CT 06001 or via check made out to the Town of Farmington Fire Department and mailed to the Town of Farmington Fire Department, 1 Monteith Drive, Farmington. Online donations may be made through the AVFD website or the TFFD’s Go Fund Me fundraiser page.

About the AVFD

Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department prides itself on the selflessness and dedication of its members – fire fighters, fire police, administrative members, Explorers, active veterans, senior veterans, and associate members, all of whom play a vital role in the safety of Avon. The Department operates six companies and 15 pieces of apparatus, including a brush truck, ladder truck, tanker, rescue vehicle, boat, and pumpers. Four stations are located throughout Town – Company 1 on Darling Drive, Company 2 on Secret Lake Road, Company 3 on West Avon Road, and Company 4 on Huckleberry Hill Road. Anyone interested in learning more about the AVFD should call the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) at 677-2644, visit www.avonvfd.org, connect on Facebook at AvonVFD, or stop by the Company 1 firehouse located at 25 Darling Drive any Monday evening after 7:00.

About the TFFD

The Town of Farmington Fire Department provides Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services throughout the Town of Farmington. It is a “Combination Fire Department” which means it is staffed by a combination of volunteer and career fire fighters. At present, the Department has 155 fire fighters – 147 are volunteer fire fighters and eight career fire fighters who are on duty weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The TFFD is always looking for new volunteer fire fighters. To learn more visit the Department’s Become a Volunteer Fire Fighter web page and then call or visit a fire station or the office of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services for an application.