| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
Website is updated the first and third Friday of each month.
Important interim updates will be posted when necessary.
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| From the Office of the Fire Chief, Friday, May 22, 2015 - This morning at 0926 hours the Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to a fully involved automobile fire in front of 2100 Dixwell Avenue. Squad 1 arrived on scene at 0929 and extinguished the fire in the northbound travel lanes.
The Hamden Police Department held road and sidewalk traffic for public safety during the incident. Dixwell Avenue was re-opened by the HPD a short time later.
The female operator of the 2007 Mazda CX7 was traveling alone and noticed smoke coming from her engine hood vents followed quickly by flames. The driver was able to safely stop and exit the vehicle before the fire spread to the passenger compartment. Hamden Central Communications received multiple 911 calls reporting the fire.
There were no injuries reported at this incident.
Fire Marshal Brian Dolan is investigating this fire.
Posted 5/22/15
Website thanks to Dep. Chief Gary Merwede for providing the photos, video and information for this incident.
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Firefighter Jerold Bradbury
(1934 - 2015)
May 18 - We regret to announce the passing on Saturday, May 16th of former Hamden Firefighter Jerold "Jerry" Bradbury, father of retired Hamden Firefighter John Bradbury. Funeral was Wednesday, May 20th.
Our thoughts and prayers are with John and the rest of the Bradbury family.
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A busy week for Hamden firefighters . . .
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55 Kelly Road
Thursday, May 14, 2015
(CLICK photos to enlarge)
Fire Chief's Office, Thursday, May 14th: Today at 3:05 p.m. the Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire located at 55 Kelly Road. The first arriving HFD unit determined that both occupants were out of the house. Heavy smoke was noted coming from the front of the ranch style home and the fire had broken through the rear windows and extended to the attic spaces in both the main area and small addition.
After intensive interior operations the fire was called under control at 3:47 p.m. Heavy damage was sustained to the rear of the home.
The American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the home owners with emergency relocation if necessary. No injuries reported.
Fire Marshal Brian Dolan is leading the investigation of this fire on behalf of the department.
Website thanks to Dep. Chief Gary Merwede for providing the photos and information for this incident and for the incident below.
Posted 5/15/15
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| Engine crew advancing a line through the front door |
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| Rear view of the home during overhaul |
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460 Wintergreen Avenue
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Fire Chief's Office, Tuesday, May 12th: While driving by the home located at 460 Wintergreen Avenue today, Brian Holt, 59, of Hamden, noticed smoke coming from the eaves of the structure. At 4:07 p.m. Mr. Holt called 9-1-1 on his cell phone to report the fire.
Engine 2 from the Circular Avenue fire station arrived first on scene at 4:10 p.m. and reported smoke coming from the attic vents and the rear of the structure. After a primary search to confirm that the raised ranch style home was unoccupied at that time, the fire was located in the attic.
Battalion Chief DeBurra declared the fire under control within 20 minutes of arrival. Neighbors provided contact information for the homeowner, who was called to the scene from work.
Engine 2, Engine 3, Tower 1, Squad 1, Rescue 2, Car 3, Car 2, and Engine 8 from Volunteer Co. 8 responded. There were no reported injuries. The Hamden Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the exact origin and cause of the fire.
Posted 5/15/15
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65 Years Ago
Plans to Modify Humphrey Hall to Accommodate More Apparatus
The National Board of Fire Underwriters* had recommended the closing of the Highwood station at Dixwell and Morse because it was very small and too close to the New Haven city line. So after the Humphrey Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Association donated their 1913 building to the Town of Hamden in 1949, in exchange for permanent rent-free use of the second floor, the town enlarged Humphrey Hall (Station 2) to three bays, then closed the Highwood station and moved Engine 1 and the ladder truck to Station 2.
Also included was the addition a new repair shop at the rear of the building where a recreation hall had been located. The old repair facility was located in the basement beneath Station 4. The building modifications were finished the following year and Highwood Station No. 1 closed October 1, 1951.
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* In the mid-1960s, the National Board of Fire Underwriters merged into the American Insurance Association. In 1971, 30 national and regional rating bureaus merged to form the Insurance Services Office (ISO). (From the All Business website)
Posted 5/15/15
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| BEFORE (in 1949) |
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| AFTER (in 1976) |
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47 Years Ago
Two Officer Vacancies Filled by Tobin and Laffin
Years ago, fire department promotions were always big news in the local papers. A month after Bob O'Donnell was promoted to Fire Marshal in late April 1968, Lieutenant Luke Tobin was promoted to fill his captain's vacancy and Firefighter Jack Laffin was promoted to fill Tobin's lieutenant's vacancy. Ironically, many years and a couple of promotions later, Laffin would end up as Captain Tobin's boss when he was named Commander (B/C) of Platoon One in 1984. Jack Laffin, a fine officer who was well-liked and respected by his men, retired on the first day of 1990, having served in six decades.
Posted 5/15/15
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Spark Time
Regular website visitor Rob Palmer, who is in the process of compiling a complete inventory of Connecticut motorized fire apparatus since Day One, informed us that this Sandy Hook Maxim pumper was a 1956 model.
Posted 5/15/15
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| Photo courtesy of Chan Brainard |
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| From the 1940 Gamewell Catalog (Courtesy of Victor Mitchell) |
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1969 - The crew of Platoon 1, Station 3 (Putnam Avenue) are seen repacking the 2-1/2" on Engine 3. Waving up top is Firefighter Walt Vining. Immediately below Walt (L-R) are Firefighters Carmen Amarante, Dave Herrmann and Ed Doiron. Barely visible in the hose bed are Firefighters Bob Chadwick and Bob Slater. All pumper hose beds were split a few years later, with 1000' of 3" on one side and 1000' of 2-1/2" on the other, which allowed one pumper to drop a parallel lay for delivering higher volumes with reduced friction loss. LDH was introduced in 1986.
Posted 5/15/15
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