Norwalk Fire Department Awarded 2025 CIRMA Risk Management Award

Information via the city of Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Mayor Harry Rilling announced Monday the Norwalk Fire Department was selected as the winner of the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency's (CIRMA) 2025 Risk Management Award in the "Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk" category.

According to a news release provided by the city, the Norwalk Fire Department was recognized for its commitment to firefighter health and safety through the department's Injury Prevention and Wellness Program.

This program promotes firefighter fitness, mobility training, nutrition and mental wellness among Norwalk's firefighters. The department partnered with CIRMA's health and wellness committee, invested in advanced PPE and conducted specialized wellness training to help with the demanding nature of the job, according to the city.

CIRMA's Risk Management Award recognizes departments across Connecticut that demonstrate significant risk management efforts in five categories, including substantial impact on total cost of risk, establishing risk management as an organizational priority, new and innovative risk management initiatives and sustainable risk management programs, according to the city.

"We are thankful to CIRMA for this recognition," Fire Chief Gino Gatto said in a news release. "Our Injury Prevention and Wellness Program was started years ago and continues to be instrumental in reducing our firefighter injuries. More and more firefighters are participating in the fitness programs. I want to thank our deputy chief of training and safety, Joseph Coppola, for his efforts and success reducing our workforce injuries and prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of our firefighters."

The award was presented at CIRMA's 45th annual meeting Jan. 31 in Hartford. The award was received by Norwalk Firefighters Local 830 Vice President Tom Reich, Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of Connecticut and Norwalk Fire Department Lt. Peter Brown, Deputy Chief of Training and Safety Joseph Coppola and Norwalk Fire Department Wellness Coordinator Sara Beckert.

As a result of their recognition, the Norwalk Fire Department will receive a crystal award and $2,500 for future wellness initiatives, according to the city.

"We are very honored and humbled to be chosen for the CIRMA 2025 Excellence in Risk Management — Substantial Impact on Total Cost of Risk Award," Coppola said in a news release. "Providing our members with such a helpful and healthful program is simply the right thing to do. Our program would not enjoy the success it does without the unwavering support we get from our chief, Gino Gatto, and our city risk manager, Craig Schmidt."