Westport Fire Marshal Named To State Commission

Connecticut fire policy is one of those things most people never think about until a code changes, a training rule shifts, or a local department gets new state support. That is why this appointment matters more than it might sound at first glance. Westport Fire Marshal Terrence B. Dunn Jr. has been named by Gov. Ned Lamont to the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, with the Westport Fire Department announcing the move on May 1. Dunn will fill the seat held by Kevin J. Kowalski of the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, and his term runs through June 30, 2028. (westportjournal.com) ### What is this commission, exactly? The Commission on Fire Prevention and Control is part of the state’s fire administration structure. In plain English, it is one of the places where Connecticut decides how fire service training, prevention work, and broader fire-service policy get shaped. The state’s fire administration page ties t(westportjournal.com) efforts, and a long list of operational guidance that departments rely on. (portal.ct.gov) ### Why does a fire marshal seat matter? A fire marshal is not just a ceremonial safety official. The job sits at the intersection of inspections, investigations, code enforcement, and prevention. So when someone from that world gets a state commission seat, the perspective they bring is practical — what rules work on the ground, what creates friction for towns, and where training or prevention g(portal.ct.gov)ts that he is state-certified as a fire marshal and licensed as an assistant building official, which is exactly the kind of cross-over experience these bodies tend to need. (westportct.gov) ### Who is Terrence Dunn? Dunn is not new to Westport or to Connecticut fire-service circles. He was hired by the Westport Fire Department in October 2003 and promoted to fire inspector in 2009. He has a University of New Haven degree in arson investigation with a criminal justice minor, and Westport lists him as first vice president of the Connecticut Fire Marshal(westportct.gov)tes, not just local operations. (westportct.gov) ### Who is he replacing? He is succeeding Kevin J. Kowalski, described in the Westport announcement as a longtime member of the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company. That detail is small, but it tells you something about how these seats work — they are meant to bring in working fire-service voices from different corners of the state, not just Hartford administrators. Dunn’s appointment keeps that practitioner model intact, but with Westport now holding the seat. (westportjournal.com) ### Why now? The backdrop here is that Connecticut has been actively adjusting parts of its fire-governance structure. A 2025 bill changed the membership and composition of the Fire Marshal Training Council and added new licensing requirements for fire and catastrophic restoration businesses, with some provisions taking effect October (westportjournal.com)te service during a period when fire oversight and training structures are still being tuned. (cga.ct.gov) ### What could Westport actually get from this? Not a blank check — that is the catch. One commission seat does not let a town dictate state policy. But it does give Westport a direct voice in conversations about training standards, prevention priorities, grant frameworks, and operational guidance. If local departments are trying to push practical concerns upward, this is one of the channels that can matter. (westportjournal.com) ### Why should regular residents care? Because fire policy shows up in ordinary life as building rules, inspection practices, emergency readiness, and the quality of firefighter training. Those systems feel invisible when they work. They become very visible when they do not. A town having someone at the table who works in that world every day is usually a quiet advantage. (westportjournal.com) ### Bottom line? This is local representation moving into a state-level seat with real influence over how Connecticut handles fire prevention and training. It is not flashy news. But basically, Westport just gained a louder voice in the part of government that decides how fire safety works before emergencies start. (westportjournal.com)