NORWALK, CONNECTICUT: The City of Norwalk, located along the Long Island Sound, is the sixth largest city in the State of Connecticut. Located in the lower portion of Fairfield County along the I-95 corridor, it is approximately 30 miles northeast of New York City.

    The Norwalk Fire Department is called upon by both its citizens as well as its neighbors for fire emergencies, ems, haz-mat, rapid intervention teams, confined space, trench rescue, and vehicle rescue/extrication. The Norwalk Fire Department is a career department consisting of 128 firefighters and officers, deployed into 4 shifts manning 5 stations. Front line apparatus consists of 5 engines, 2 trucks, 1 heavy rescue, and a command car. The department also contains 11 staff personnel consisting of the Fire Marshal's Office, Training division, Apparatus Maintenance, the Chief, and Assistant Chief respectively.

    The department protects over 83,000 residents, numerous visitors to its coastal recreational areas, and uncounted travelers on the I-95 corridor. Transportation includes the Metro-North commuter train service, transporting over 100,000 people weekly from New York City, to and from Fairfield County and beyond. Amtraks Northeast corridor service also travels through Norwalk. Norwalk has 3 active railroad stations directly on this critical Metro-North line, with another station servicing the Merritt 7 office and residential complex, on a spur line.

    Four main thoroughfares run through the city, three of which are divided highways, including two major routes for those traveling in the northeast between New York and Boston. The Merritt Parkway (Rte. 15), with over 70,000 people/day, and Interstate-95, with over 146,000 people/day.     In all, approximately 300,000 people travel through Norwalk daily via these four main routes.

    Within this city of 27 square miles can be found: 12 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, 2 colleges, 1 hospital, and more than 100 churches and synagogues. Along with many attractions, Norwalk is a working community with over 1000 businesses.