Fire codes

Connecticut Fire Code & Departments

Mid-cycle adoption (2021) on the NFPA Fire Code track - 289 departments in the HIFLD roster.

NFPA Fire Code Adopted 2021

Connecticut Fire Safety Code (NFPA based)

Connecticut is one of the NFPA model code states, adopting NFPA 1 Fire Code. The State Fire Marshal has statewide authority.

NFPA Fire Code · fires rank #29 of 51

Connecticut adopts NFPA Fire Code (2021), shared by 11 of 51 states in this extract. 289 fire departments; the state ranks #29 of 51 nationally by annual fires (USFA).

  • Annual-fires rank #29 of 51 nationally
  • 11 of 51 states share this code type
  • 32 career / 171 volunteer depts
289
Fire Departments
16,581
Total Personnel
171
Volunteer Depts
32
Career Depts

Largest Fire Departments in Connecticut

#1
Bridgeport Fire Department - Rescue Squad 5
Bridgeport
366 personnel
#2
Hartford Fire Department - Central Station
Hartford
364 personnel
#3
Danbury Fire Department
Danbury
338 personnel
#4
Waterbury Fire Department
Waterbury
286 personnel
#5
West Haven Fire Department
West Haven
276 personnel
View all 289 departments in Connecticut →

Connecticut: mid-cycle code desk

Mid-cycle vintage (2021) on the NFPA Fire Code track. 11 of 51 states share the family. Expect comments citing both the state floor and newer local amendments.

Enforcement capacity is mixed: 32 career and 171 volunteer departments (16% career among typed orgs), totaling 16,581 personnel. Expect urban career offices to carry denser inspection calendars while volunteer districts lean on the state fire marshal for complex reviews. Largest roster in-state: Bridgeport Fire Department - Rescue Squad 5 (366 personnel, 2.2% of the state total).

USFA annual-fires rank for Connecticut is #29 of 51 (~21,500 fires/year ; 34 fire deaths; 213 injuries). Pair that incident load with the adoption vintage above when judging how hard the code is tested in the field. Figures: HIFLD Open Data ( FEMA / U.S. Fire Administration ), USFA published statistics, and state code-adoption records in this portal's extract.

Same NFPA Fire Code family: nearest adoption peers

  • LA · adopted 2021 (same model year)
  • MA · adopted 2021 (same model year)
  • FL · adopted 2023 (2 yr from Connecticut)
  • DE · adopted 2018 (3 yr from Connecticut)
  • IA · adopted 2018 (3 yr from Connecticut)
  • IN · adopted 2018 (3 yr from Connecticut)

Frequently Asked Questions

What fire code does Connecticut use?
Connecticut adopts the Connecticut Fire Safety Code (NFPA based) (adopted 2021). Connecticut is one of the NFPA model code states, adopting NFPA 1 Fire Code. The State Fire Marshal has statewide authority.
How current is Connecticut's adopted fire code?
Connecticut shows adoption year 2021 in this extract (mid-cycle band, 2019–2021). Local amendments can still tighten sprinkler or wildland rules beyond the statewide floor.
How many fire departments are in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 289 fire departments registered in the HIFLD database, including 32 career departments and 171 volunteer departments with 16,581 total personnel.
How does Connecticut's fire load compare nationally?
USFA ranks Connecticut #29 of 51 by annual fires (~21,500 fires/year in this extract). Pair that load with the adoption vintage and department mix on this page, high-load states stress code enforcement differently than low-load peers on the same code family.
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData

Keep reading: Methodology (HIFLD + USFA join notes for this extract).