Mayor, Torrington fire and police leaders and volunteer chiefs on Tuesday described a multi-agency response to a large Sunday fire and outlined immediate steps to address contamination, pay for cleanup and recover city costs.

City leaders said public-safety personnel from Torrington and dozens of mutual‑aid departments worked through the incident without serious injuries and that the next task is remediation and cost accounting. The mayor said he has reached out to the Governor’s Office, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Brownfield and related funding.

The mayor said the city will compile an operational accounting of overtime, vehicle use and other expenses and create a dedicated line item so the city can seek reimbursement from the property owner or other sources. He said a $2,000,000 grant had funded demolition of a prior plant on that site (referred to in remarks as the “Troynton standard plant”), and the city is exploring similar resources for cleanup. “We intend to keep the taxpayers whole,” the mayor said.

Chief Tripp, Torrington’s fire chief, told the board he was “proud of the men and women of the TFD” for their response. He said 22 mutual‑aid departments assisted and praised the Department of Public Works, police, state investigators and utility companies for support during the incident. “Their calmness, experience, and leadership allowed them to set in motion a chain of events that contain the fire to those buildings,” he said.

Volunteer Fire Chief Kalinowski said local volunteer crews trained extensively, responded to brush fires earlier in the season and staffed the scene in shifts during the Sunday incident. He described an initial eight‑hour operation followed by additional overnight pumping and credited close coordination with the Torrington career firefighters.

Officials described equipment and staffing conditions observed at the scene. Chief Tripp said Engine 1 operated well and that Engine 5 is awaiting a nine‑week part for ladder certification. He said the city is considering a roughly $21,000 refurbishment/recertification for an aerial ladder. The deputy chief and other presenters said staffing remains a constraint and that overtime needs will be reported in a future budget/monthly report.

Trinity EMS (the city’s ambulance contractor) said it has purchased two replacement Chevrolet Tahoes to replace older medic units; the vehicles are being lettered and fitted with communications and cabinets and will require OEMS inspection before entering service. Trinity’s representative said the new units could be on the road in about a month.

The mayor asked the fire chief to assemble a full accounting of costs tied to the incident, including overtime and vehicle expenses, and directed the comptroller to establish a separate tracking line for those costs. The mayor said the city will pursue recovery from the property owner and seek external grants and Brownfield funding; he said the city had already contacted regional partners (including a contact at EPA Region 1 and NVCOG).

Board members praised firefighters, police and mutual aid and expressed appreciation that no civilians or responders were seriously injured. Commissioners also asked about the cost to mutual‑aid towns and noted that some towns provided unique assets, such as a single tower ladder.

The board did not take a vote on cleanup funding during the meeting; officials described next steps as staff follow‑up with state and federal partners, an internal accounting of costs and a future request to the city council if staff seek appropriations or action from the council.