Wilton Answer Book – Emergencies

What kinds of calls should be made to 911?

Only emergency calls should be made to 911, such as to report a fire, medical crisis, or police emergency like a home intruder or other life-threatening situation.

People should not call for directions, to find out if roads are icy, or for routine service such as barking dogs. Routine police department calls should be directed to 834-6260, routine fire department calls to 834-6246.

Who answers the 911 line?

In Wilton, 911 is answered by a dispatcher at the Wilton Police Department. Dispatchers are on duty 24 hours.

A mobile 911 system enables dispatchers to quickly track a cell phone caller’s location anywhere in the state.

Where is the nearest emergency room?

The nearest for most people is at Norwalk Hospital on Maple Street, about five miles from Wilton Center. Call 852-2160. For some people in north Wilton and Georgetown, Danbury Hospital on Locust Avenue may be closer; call 797-7100.

What ambulance service is available in town?

The Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps (834-6245) provides emergency ambulance service for all Wiltonians. The agency has about 50 volunteers and is headquartered at 234 Danbury Road behind the town hall and fire station. Headquarters is staffed by two paid members during the day, Monday through Friday. The service responds to calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Georgetown Fire Department provides ambulance service to the Georgetown section of Wilton, south to Scribner Hill Road. There are no private ambulance services in Wilton, but Danbury Ambulance (748-3433) provides services for a fee for non-emergency transportation from home to hospital, transfers from hospital to home and hospital to hospital, and transportation of hospice patients.

Where will the ambulance take me?

The Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps takes patients to Norwalk Hospital. The Georgetown Fire Department will usually take you to Danbury Hospital.

Do we have paramedics?

Paramedics from Norwalk Hospital provide 24-hour coverage in Wilton.

How much does an ambulance call cost me?

Although the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps does not charge for service, the town charges for the use of the ambulance according to rates established by the state. For 2009, the rate for a Basic Life Support call is $501. A Level 1 Advanced Life Support call (ambulance plus paramedic) is $858. There are other special charges that may accrue. The town bills Medicare/Medicaid and commercial insurance for the elderly. The town bills all other patients directly.

How can I help the ambulance corps?

The corps has a dedicated team of volunteers but more are always needed. For more information, call the corps headquarters at 834-6245.

Where is the fire department?

The Wilton Fire & Rescue Department is headquartered at 236 Danbury Road next to the town hall. The phone number for routine calls is 834-6246. The Web site is wiltonfire.org. The chief is Paul Milositz.

Wilton Fire Station #2, known as the Marhoffer station, is at 707 Ridgefield Road (Route 33) and serves the northern portions of town. Both stations are staffed with career firefighter/EMTs, augmented by volunteers.

The department’s mission is to provide high-quality fire suppression, prevention, inspection, fire safety education, and emergency medical, rescue, and hazardous material mitigation services.

The Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company responds to calls in the Wilton section of Georgetown. The phone number for routine calls is 544-8800.

How many firefighters are there?

Wilton has 23 career line personnel: four captains, four lieutenants, and 15 firefighters. There are eight volunteer members: two lieutenants and six firefighters. All career firefighters and several volunteers are also certified as EMTs. Seven fire/rescue personnel are certified as hazardous materials technicians.

What is the starting salary for a beginning firefighter?

As of July 1, 2009, the starting salary is $52,262.

What kind of equipment does the fire department own?

The department owns three fire pumpers, one ladder truck, one pumper/tanker, a utility pickup truck, a HazMat vehicle, a small amphibious all-terrain vehicle, and five staff or support vehicles. Each fire engine is equipped with medical equipment, including defibrillators for use during cardiac emergencies.

What calls did the department answer?

According to Wilton Fire Commission minutes of a meeting on Jan. 14, 2009, the Wilton Fire Department responded to 1,624 calls in 2008: 497 fire and alarm calls, 786 EMS calls, and 341 calls classified as “other.”

I called 911 for an ambulance, and a fire engine showed up also. Why?

Wilton has a three-tier emergency response system. Police, fire and EMS/paramedics will respond to emergency calls. In case of a heart attack, such a response is vital since all police cars, fire vehicles, and EMS vehicles have defibrillators and trained personnel to use them. Whoever arrives first can begin emergency treatment.

How can I become a volunteer firefighter?

Applications may be picked up at Wilton fire headquarters. You may also call 834-6246 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (put “volunteer membership” in the subject line). To join, you must be at least 18, have a driver’s license, and live or work in Wilton. All new members who are not certified in fire service must take Firefighter I training. Volunteers not interested in becoming line firefighters may apply for membership filling support roles. All volunteers must attend drills, usually on Tuesday evenings and respond to at least 25 percent of all alarms on their shifts.

If I smell smoke and call the fire department, will I get billed for services?

No, residents are not billed for this or other calls the fire department responds to. Local property taxes pay for the fire department, with the exception of the Georgetown section of Wilton.

The one possible time you could be billed is for a hazardous material clean-up call. Even then, you would not be charged unless the cost of the clean-up is exorbitant for the town, which could result in a fee to mitigate expenses.

Will I be billed for a false alarm?

Yes. Automatic alarms for fire, police or duress that are false will result in charges from the town. Each household is allowed two false alarms per fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. The third and fourth alarms will be billed at $50 each. From the fifth alarm on, the alarm owner will be billed $100 each. Provided you are paid up, the slate is wiped clean each fiscal year. All automatic alarms must be registered annually, by July 1, with the tax collector (563-0125). There is no charge to register your alarm, however, failure to register each year will result in a $25 fee. If you do not register by July 1, you will be assessed a late fee of $25.

Who is the fire marshal and what does he do?

David Kohn is Wilton’s fire marshal (834-6249). Rocco Grosso is the fire inspector. Their responsibilities include inspecting buildings, vehicles and other installations to assure overall compliance with federal, state, and local fire safety regulations. He and his staff are responsible for enforcing state flammable liquid and gas codes, reviewing building plans, inspecting construction progress, and investigating the causes of any fires or fire code violations. He also heads the fire department’s fire safety public education program, which includes the annual Emergency Services Open House for the community at fire headquarters every October during Fire Prevention Week.

Does the fire department check out businesses, schools and other public places for safety?

Yes, the fire department is required by state law to do annual inspections of all buildings except one- and two-family dwellings.

Where is the police department?

The Wilton Police Department is at 240 Danbury Road (the town hall complex). Call 834-6260 for routine calls. Edward Kulhawik is the police chief. The Web site is wiltonpolice.org.

What are the town’s police statistics?

In 2008, the Wilton Police Department responded to 18,294 calls for service. Police also responded to 810 motor vehicle accidents, 1,072 ambulance calls and 1,413 burglar alarms.

In the seven categories of serious crime statistics reported by the FBI, in 2008 there was one homicide, two rapes, three robberies, five cases of aggravated assault, 19 burglaries, 120 larcenies, and two motor vehicle thefts.

Is there a sex offender registry?

The state contributes information on all sex offenders registered in Connecticut to the National Sex Offender Public Registry, which may be accessed at nsopr.gov. The list contains only offenders who have been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

How big is the police department?

Wilton has 44 sworn police officers. In addition, there are four civilian employees, and the department is assisted by police cadets from Explorer Post 58. There are 19 patrol cars (marked and unmarked), four of which are SUVs. The department also has six bicycles and six officers trained in bike patrol duties.

What is the salary of a beginning police officer?

A four-year contract sets starting salaries for new, full-time officer at $52,611 to $72,035 as of July 1, 2009.

Who responds to a water emergency?

The Wilton Dive Rescue team is a joint venture of the police and fire departments. Members are trained in rescue, search, and recovery. The team trains once a month in local waters as well as bodies of water outside Wilton, and is prepared for both cold- and warm-water rescues.

What is STP?

The Strategic Traffic Patrol addresses traffic problems in Wilton and is responsible for addressing citizen complaints regarding traffic volume, speeding, and aggressive driving. The unit patrols in marked and unmarked cars and operates independently of the Patrol Division.

Is there a Neighborhood Watch Program?

Yes. The police will teach you how to reduce the risk of being victimized at home and will provide neighborhood watch sings to participating neighborhoods.

I need to be fingerprinted for an application. Will the police do it for me?

The police department provides fingerprint service at no charge to residents of Wilton and people with commercial businesses in town. Call to make an appointment on the day you want to be fingerprinted.

Will the police ensure my child safety seat is correctly installed?

Parents with questions about child safety seats should call Officer Louis Reszoly or Officer David Hartman at 834-6260. They have attended classes on the correct installation of child safety seats and are certified by Connecticut Safe Kids.

How do I get a copy of a police report?

Stop by the records division Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or call 834-6260 and ask if a report can be left at the front desk for you to pick up. They can be mailed at an additional cost.

Is there a School Resources Officer?

Yes. Officer Richard Ross works full time with Wilton school students of all ages, assisting them with any matter in which police service can be of help. He offers community education programs on laws, drug awareness and the dangers of alcohol abuse. Officer Ross also investigates any criminal complaints at the schools and within 1,500 feet of school property. He may be reached at 834-6260 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

What is the Wilton Police Explorers?

The Explorers program is open to young men and women between 14 and 20 years of age. The club meets every Wednesday evening to train in various types of police duties including accident and crime scene investigation, firearms use, DWI, and the communications center. Explorers can assist police officers in traffic details and working the in the communications center. They also sponsor safety programs for children including Kidcare ID events.

Each fall there is a First Nighter when those interested in the program may attend an informational meeting. For information, call Officer Richard Ross at 834-6260 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Who responds to a big emergency in town?

Five Wilton police officers are members of the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team, which includes 27 highly specialized officers from area communities. This team is charged with responding to “critical incidents” in town.

How can I help in case of an emergency?

Wilton’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a volunteer secondary response organization that can be called upon to assist the police and/or fire departments in the event of an emergency. Volunteers are trained in adult CPR with AED (defibrillation), basic first aid, fire suppression, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, sheltering in place, and CERT and terrorism. They are also taught skills for handling emergencies at home and to assist in traffic control.

There is a six-session training program that is free to Wiltonians. People working in town are also invited to sign up for CERT. Skills training classes are offered throughout the year and hold joint training and exercises with surrounding communities that have their own CERT program.

Graduates who sign up as volunteers for CERT are provided with emergency gear at the end of the course for use in future deployments if and when necessary. Volunteers can be called out by the fire and police departments or the first selectman.

For more information, visit wiltoncert.org or call Tina Gardner at 563-0113.

What should I do in case of an emergency?

The first thing you can do is check your computer. The Wilton Urgent Notification E-mail List is used to notify Wilton citizens of any urgent information from road closures to emergency preparedness. The service is provided by the Wilton Kiwanis Club in partnership with the town. For information and to subscribe, visit wiltonkiwanis.org and click on the Wilton Urgent Notification E-mail List link.

The home page of the town’s Web site — wiltonct.org — runs a scrolling banner at the top of the page indicating whether any emergency information is posted.

The town offers an Emergency Preparedness Guide, available online at wiltonct.org. The town also offers the Wilton Emergency Contact Registration Program for senior citizens and handicapped individuals. Call Wilton Social Services (834-6238) to register.

The American Red Cross offers two pamphlets. Emergency Preparedness Checklist covers steps to take in case of natural disasters, fires, and hazardous materials spills. Together We Prepare: 5 Actions for Emergency Preparedness offers more general suggestions. For a copy, call the Red Cross at 227-9505 or visit online at redcross.org.

Severe storms are the most common disasters in this area and Connecticut Light and Power offers the following tips: Check medications that need refrigeration. You may want to keep a small cooler handy for that purpose. Have a supply of canned, non-perishable food and drinking water that will last a couple of days. Get extra ice and put it in plastic bags. This will help maintain the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer.

Set aside water. Fill the bathtub with water for toilets; a bucket in the bowl is all that’s needed for flushing. You can buy bottled water for drinking. Be prepared to cook outside, but don’t bring grills into the house.

Stock up on batteries for a battery-powered radio and flashlights, and have extra wood for fireplaces or wood stoves. Fill your car’s gas tank.

Unplug sensitive electrical equipment like computers and VCRs.

Stay away from downed power lines.

Wilton’s emergency shelter is at Miller Elementary School on Wolfpit Road. If the idea of staying at a shelter makes you uncomfortable, have prior arrangements set up so you can stay with friends or neighbors, or have the phone numbers and addresses of nearby motels readily available.

What should I do if power goes out in a storm?

Call Connecticut Light and Power at 800-286-2000. Have flashlights or candles readily available. Don’t use a gas stove for heat or illumination, and shut off electrical appliances. A small portable generator is a good back-up power source.

How do I reach poison control?

Dial 800-222-1222. This national number will connect you with medical experts at a local poison control center. There is also a Web site, www.1-800-222-1222.info.

However, when fast medical assistance is needed in an emergency, dial 911 and describe the problem to the dispatcher.

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