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July 2021
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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Chief John Tramontano
(1937 - 2015)
It is with deep regret that we announce the sudden passing of retired Hamden Fire Chief John R. Tramontano last Friday, September 4th, at his home in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Active and retired Hamden fire and police personnel and all other fire service colleagues and friends of Chief Tramontano's are invited to a Memorial Service, conducted by members of the Hamden Fire Department in cooperation with the Tramontano family, to be held at Hamden's Memorial Town Hall, Whitney and Dixwell Avenues, on the morning of Saturday, September 19th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Retired fire personnel still in possession of their dress blues are encouraged to wear them.
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Featured in this update . . .
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New Battalion Chief
| 40 Years!
| Help for Allison
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Desroches Promoted to Battalion Chief
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| Battalion Chief Ron Desroches |
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Will Lead Platoon 2
For the third time in as many months a new battalion chief has been named by the Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners. At the regular monthly meeting last Wednesday evening, twenty-eight year department veteran Ron Desroches was named to succeed Battalion Chief William Fitzmaurice, who retired last month.
Ron Desroches joined the fire service in 1976 as a member of the Dunbar Hill Volunteer Fire Co. No. 8. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps two years later, where he served for four years, completing his active duty at the rank of Sergeant.
Ron began his service as a member of the career department on February 9, 1987. Following his recruit training, Ron was assigned to Platoon 2, which he will now lead as the department's newest battalion chief. He was promoted the Lieutenant in June 1999, and Captain in February 2006.
Just before administering the oath to Chief Desroches, longtime HFD fan and Hamden Town Clerk Vera Morrison noted that in her twenty years as Town Clerk she believes that she has admininstered more oaths to newly promoted fire officers in 2015 than in all previous years combined.
This is the first time in department history that three new shift commanders have been named during the same calendar year - indeed, within three months. In addition to B/C Desroches, B/C Rich Otlowski was promoted in June to replace retired B/C Don LaBanca and B/C Gary Couture was promoted last month to replace retired B/C Sam DeBurra. The previous record was two. In May 1984, Captains Jack Laffin and Tom Doherty were promoted to succeed D/C [B/C] Paul Rosadina and D/C [B/C] George Reutenauer as commanders of Platoons 1 and 3, respectively.
The members of the HFRA wish Battalion Chief Ron Desroches all the very best. Those of us who have worked with Ron through the years know that he will do very well in his new role.
Posted 9/4/15
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| Photo by Lieut. Joe Anderson |
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Website thanks to Lieutenant Joe Anderson for sending this photo of
B/C Bill "Fitzy" Fitzmaurice next to Car 3 on his last day on the job.
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40 Years!
And Station 5's Raymond K. Spencer Memorial Annex is still the
newest completely new construction for Hamden's career apparatus.
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| R.K., Spencer - Annex Dedication - September 4, 1975 (Photo by Jack Harriet) |
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September 4, 1975 - Mt. Carmel Fire Station Annex Dedication
Forty years ago, on Thursday evening, September 4, 1975, the annex of Station 5 in Mt. Carmel was officially dedicated. Master of ceremonies for the dedication that night was Co. 5 President Raymond K. Spencer, for whom the annex was officially named thirty-six years later.
Mayor Lucien DiMeo, Chief V. Paul Leddy and department chaplain Rev. Owen Sanderson all spoke before a crowd of about one hundred present and former members of the career and volunteer companies, as well as many family members and friends.
Two unrelated facts about the event stand out four decades later. First, it was the last time a completely new structure was built for the purpose of housing Hamden career fire apparatus. Second, the event was videotaped at a time when home video was still years in the future.
We have posted a YouTube presentation of portions of this video presentation, with remarks by Chief Leddy, Mayor DiMeo and Rev. Sanderson. Several past and present members of the paid department (in 1975!) were introduced by Chief Leddy.
Reposted 9/4/15
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| Spring 1975 - the walls go up |
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| Summer 1975 - Almost done |
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By the summer 1974, the 1939 Diamond-T pumper that had been Engine 7 was to be sold by the town. In August 1974, Co. 5's line officers approached Chief V. Paul Leddy. If Co. 5 built a simple storage garage behind Station 5 to accommodate Car 55, they asked, would the Chief assign them Co. 7's old 1939 Diamond-T pumper?
Chief Leddy agreed. But the town's youthful purchasing agent was preparing to dispose of the pumper. He was reluctant to give the pumper back to the fire department, stating that it would bring "at least five hundred bucks" back to the town's treasury. Co. 5's line officers politely pointed out to the young man that their firefighters had just spent hundreds of man hours over several days assisting the career department fighting a nasty fire involving thousands of old tires on State Street. The purchasing agent had no comeback. He released the pumper back to the fire department for eventual assignment to Volunteer Co. 5.
This started a chain of events that led to the construction of a building annex for Station 5 during the following year. Station 5's annex, paid for entirely by the volunteers, would be capable of housing Hamden's largest apparatus at the time.
On September 4, 1975, the entire annex dedication ceremony was videotaped on a B&W reel-to-reel videotape recorder. Portions of the recording were posted on YouTube.
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| September 4, 1975 Annex Dedication Program - Courtesy of Gil Spencer (CLICK to enlarge) |
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Helping Allison Stratton and her family with strong local fire service ties . . .
Hamden Fire Marshal Brian Dolan contacted us recently. "I am looking for help for a family member and hopeful that members of Hamden FD can help out. My cousin, Allison Stratton, was afflicted by a severe heart and nervous system virus last October. She was literally healthy one day, Life-Stared to the hospital the next, and on life-support for over a week.
Allison was able to fight through the virus and survived. She is now paralyzed, with a spinal cord injury, and is wheelchair bound as a result of the illness. She is married with two young children."
Brian noted that Allison was born and raised in Hamden. Her father, Phil Stratton, is a retired New Haven firefighter. Brian is trying to raise as much money as possible for Allison and her family, which has growing financial concerns as a result of her illness and physical limitations.
"The family suddenly went from two incomes to one. Their house now requires many renovations to make it handicap accessible."
Donations can be made payable to the “Allison Stratton-Peterson Fund.”
The Fund is hoping to collect any donations by September 25th so that they may present all the Hamden FD donations to the family at one time. For more information on how to donate, please contact the website at hfdbadge102@aol.com.
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Hamden High Freshman Alerts Town Walk Tenant of Fire
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| Brandon Sealey with HFD Friend by Squad 1 |
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From the Office of the Fire Chief:
On Sunday 8/30/2015 at 17:45 Hamden Central Communications received a 911 call reporting an alarm activation and an uncontained oven fire in Building 11000 in the Town Walk Drive apartment complex. At approximately the same time, Hamden High School freshman Brandon Sealey [15] was riding his bike in the rear of the building.
Brandon heard the sound of an activated smoke detector and saw light smoke coming from the sliding doors leading to the deck of the apartment with the oven fire. He ran to his first floor apartment and retrieved a fire extinguisher, giving it to his adult neighbor from the affected apartment. As the Hamden Fire Department arrived in the complex, the fire was extinguished without extension. Lt. Naples from Squad 1 confirmed the fire was extinguished and ventilated the building prior to allowing residents to return.
For his willingness to help a neighbor and quick actions that led to the extinguishment of an incipient fire, Brandon was recognized by the Firefighters at Station 4 when he visited with his parents yesterday.
Smoke detectors, properly maintained alarm systems, and portable fire extinguishers can save lives and property. Never re-enter a smoke filled building to attempt to extinguish a fire. The positive outcome at this call was due to quick action of an alert high school student within a minute of the smoke detector activation.
Posted 9/4/15
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25 Years Ago This Week!
New Rear Mount Pierce 105' Aerial Ladder Replaces Two Antiques
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| From The Hamden Chronicle, September 1, 1990 (Courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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In late 1989 the department's 1970 Maxim 100 footer was declared unsafe and was removed from service. Hamden's first aerial ladder truck, a 1958 Maxim 75' "Junior Aerial," was still in service as a spare when 1990 dawned, but was taken out of service permanently shortly thereafter.
While the town scurried to purchase a new aerial truck, the East Haven Fire Department lent the department their spare 1967 Seagrave aerial to tide things over until the new 105' Pierce rear mount arrived in September. For many years after the new 100' Pierce tower ladder arrived in 1991, the 1990 aerial, a quint, was assigned to Station 5 as "Truck 5" and responded on still alarms as an engine company. The truck, now quartered at Station 9, still serves the department as a spare.
Posted 9/4/15
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| Hamden's 105' Pierce Aerial Ladder Truck |
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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Don't forget:
The annual Engine 260 Muster at Milford's Eisenhower Park
is tomorrow, September 12th starting at 10 AM
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Use "Previous Update" link to view the September 4th and earlier updates,
Use "All Previous Updates" link to select any update back to 2009.
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This week the HFRA website remembers our brother retiree, John R. Tramontano, who served as Chief of the Hamden Fire Department from April 28, 1984 until his retirement on January 31, 1993. Chief Tramontano passed away at his Gilford, New Hampshire home last week.
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| September 28, 1954 Meeting Minutes - Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Company |
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John Tramontano's entry into the fire service came 61 years ago when he was elected to membership in the Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Co. No. 5. The fire company's secretary at the time was Joseph Rahl. Joe would become a career member of the Hamden Fire Department in 1957, Tramontano two years later. Twenty years after he joined Co. 5, Lt. Tramontano's driver on Engine 4 would be Joe Rahl.
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| From The New Haven Sunday Register, May 8, 1955 |
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Many of Hamden's volunteer firefighters were also members of Hamden's Civil Defense Fire Auxiliary, headed by Batt. Chief Paul Leddy. In this May 1955 photo, volunteer firefighter John Tramontano (arrow) is holding down a 2-1/2" line for the two hosemen as Battalion Chief Leddy looks on. Twenty-nine years later, Tramontano would succeed Leddy as Chief of the Department.
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| January 1968 - L-R: Chief V. Paul Leddy; Carmen Amarante; Joseph Greco, town attorney; Mayor William Adams; Fred Knudsen; Luke Tobin; and John Tramontano. Both sides working out the details of the 42-hour work week. |
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As one of the negotiators for the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association, Tramontano helped to win a 42-hour workweek for Hamden's line firefighters. In this January 1968 photo, the town and fire department negotiators work out a plan for implementing the new workweek, to commence in October 1970.
Tramontano became president of the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association in February 1969. The SBA was the bargaining unit for all non-management fire personnel until 1978.
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The Hamden Fire Department has always been a huge supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In the March 1970 photo above, Mrs. Clarence Manley of the New Haven County Chapter of MDA presented an MDA Certificate of Merit to Mayor William Adams, Chief V. Paul Leddy and Sick Benefit Association President Tramontano for "their generosity to 1969 Firefighters Crusade for Muscular Dystrophy."
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Lieutenant
Tramontano was promoted to lieutenant on December 13, 1973. During the next few years he would be assigned to Stations 2, 3 and 4. In 1976, Lieutenant Tramontano was among the first eight department EMTs to complete paramedic certification training. He was assigned to the new Rescue 2 at Station 2, seen in the 1979 photo below.
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| 1979 - Lt. John Tramontano displays Rescue 2's generator |
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| 1979 - Lt. John Tramontano and Rescue 2 |
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Lieut Tramontano and Ff. Ralph Dievert, assigned to Rescue 1, conduct a blood pressure clinic at Hamden High School during National Bicentennial observances in April 1976. Ff. Dievert is taking the blood pressure of their shift commonder, Deputy Chief Francis "Chalky" Leddy.
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Below, Lieut. Tramontano and his crew in front of Station 2 on a balmy spring day in 1980. L-R: Firefighters Dave Strawhince, Ralph Tomaselli, Ronnie Altieri, Howie Hurlburt, Jr., Ray Dobbs, Lieut. Tramontano, Firefighters Bill Mulcahy and Harry Cubbellotti. The ninth member of the crew, Ff. Joe Mulligan, off-duty that day.
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Mountain Rescue Team
In 1976, Tramontano commanded the department's first Mountain Rescue Team, for high elevation rescues on Sleeping Giant. In the years that followed, the team made many such rescues on Sleeping Giant and were frequently called to rescue individuals from high elevations in neighboring communities.
Over time, Tramontano adopted variations of many of the team's mountain rescue tactics for performing rescues in high-rise occupancies.
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| Tramontano demonstrates a rope climbing technique during the October 1982 Fire Prevention Demonstration at the Hamden Mart. |
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Deputy Chief / Training Officer
On April 15, 1981, Lieutenant John Tramontano was promoted to Deputy Chief Training Officer.
It was the start of a new era for the Hamden Fire Department.
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One of Tramontano's priorities was to begin fire certification training for all career and volunteer personnel.
State certification for Fire Fighter levels I, II and III by the Connecticut State Commission on Fire Prevention and Control was a fairly new concept. By networking with other area fire departments, Dep. Chief Tramontano tapped into the knowledge and experience of fellow career fire training officers. "Why re-invent the wheel when it's probably being done as well or better right in our own backyard."
The certification training started with Hamden's (then) four volunteer companies. Traditionally, volunteer training was usually behind the curve compared with that of career personnel. State certification training allowed for a more level playing field among the two department divisions.
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| May 1981 - Firefighters Ray Reilly, Bob Chadwick, Bill Coppola, and Dave Johnson are pictured with Dep. Chief Training Officer John Tramontano following their promotions, which became effective June 1st. |
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Deputy Chief Tramontano's first challenge as training officer came in May 1981 when vacancies in half the department's complement of lieutenants were filled by four firefighters, none of whom had been eligible when the previous promotions were made eight years earlier. This was the first time any formal in-house training was offered to new company officers.
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Shortly after his appointment as training officer, Dep. Chief Tramontano was instrumental in the formation of Central Communications, which combined the dispatch facilities and personnel of Hamden's fire and police departments under one roof. The move was necessitated chiefly by the introduction of 9-1-1 in Hamden and surrounding communities.
As training officer, Tramontano was responsible for fire communications personnel and resources, including the training of dispatchers and maintaining the dispatch cards with the running assignments for each of the 600-plus streets in Hamden.
The coming of 9-1-1 and the creation of Central Communications brought new dispatch procedures, including map book references on every dispatch and a pre-alert announcement to warn of the alert bell, which preceded all dispatch announcements over station PA systems. "Attention, stand by for a dispatch" was meant to reduce stress on station personnel.
One of Tramontano's strong points was his willingness to try new ideas. He didn't care where they came from, either. The map books actually were the brainchild of Firefighter-Paramedic Harold Prescher, then a recruit firefighter. Ff. Prescher drew all of the pages of the "1981 Edition," which Dep. Chief Tramontano copied and put into all apparatus. Another new recruit in '81, Firefighter John Longo, suggested the "Attention" forewarning on each dispatch, an idea that undoubtedly kept personnel pulse rates at a minimum when the alert bell struck in each station, especially at night.
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Chief of the Department
In February 1984, Mayor Peter Villano appointed Dep. Chief Tramontano to succeed V. Paul Leddy as Chief of the Hamden Fire Department, to become effective with Leddy's retirement at the end of April.
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Chief V. Paul Leddy had led the department for nearly 24 years, doubling the size of the department, making it the third largest fire department in New Haven County. By 1984, 80% of department personnel had served under no other chief but Leddy, who would be a very tough act to follow. Whoever got the nod would have some very big shoes to fill.
John Tramontano's appointment as chief was not without controversy. Despite Tramontano's eight years experience as a company officer and three years as the department's training officer, a few politically connected individuals resented his somewhat meteoric rise through the ranks. But many more others, both within and outside the department, saw Tramontano as the only man with the experience, management skills and vision to succeed Chief Leddy in an era that was far different than when Leddy took over the department a generation earlier.
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Department Reorganization
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One of Chief Tramontano's first priorities was to adopt the "company concept," where every engine and truck company is led by a fire officer. He recognized that many more company officers would be required to make that work.
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| November 2, 1984 - Lt. John Calamo, Lt. Robert Mordecai, Lt. Robert Viglione, Chief John Tramontano, Lt. Dennis Baker, Lt. Howard Hurlburt, Jr., Lt. Robert Kelo and Lt. David Strawhince |
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During his tenure as fire chief, Tramontano added two more company officers to each platoon, creating a more effective and safer span of control and more opportunities for career advancement than ever before.
Chief Tramontano is pictured above in November 1984 with seven new lieutenants following their swearing-in ceremony at Town Hall. Three of the new officers replaced three lieutenants who had been promoted to captain. The other four filled new slots for one additional lieutenant on each platoon. It was the first time since 1963 that a new company officer had been added to each shift. Four more new lieutenant slots were created in 1985.
Once all of the new company officers were in place, Chief Tramontano assigned all of his company officers a specific responsibility. One captain was responsible for all SCBAs, another for maintaining the inventory and distribution of station supplies, an officer at Station 3 was responsible for hose inventory, two officers were placed in charge of Haz-Mat preparation, and so forth. All four captains were each assigned to a different station as the "house captain." He wanted every officer to have a role in the overall operation of the department.
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| December 26, 1984 - Chief Tramontano and Asst. Marshal Bob Westervelt (Chronicle article courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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Fire Marshal Bob O'Donnell had wanted an assistant for years, but the effort was always shot down by either the Mayor or the Council. Before 1984 was history, Chief Tramontano was able to get an Assistant Fire Marshal and a mechanic's position for the Shop in his first budget.
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| (L-R): Lieut. Donald LaBanca, Ff. Jim Moore, Dep. Chief Walter Macdowall, Chief Tramontano, Firefighters Wayne Lowry and Carl Backus. |
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Chief Tramontano believed in recognizing the extraordinary efforts of "the troops." Under his leadership, three town hall ceremonies were conducted to honor department members who distinguished themselves and the HFD during emergency situations.
The 1st Awards Ceremony took place on October 18, 1985, at which time the crew members of Engine 2, Platoon 3 were awarded the department's Medal of Honor for saving the life of a pregnant woman trapped on the third floor of a burning building on Edwards Street. Other awards ceremonies were held in 1987 and again in 1989.
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The Legacy (to name only some):
- Fire Fighter I certification required for all personnel, career and volunteer (1985)
- "Incident Command System" and SOPs (1986)
- Eight additional lieutenant slots - Officers on all engine companies (1984-85)
- Assistant Fire Marshal, Mechanic and Hydrant Maintainer (1984-86)
- Mountain Rescue Team (1976)
- "I want your part-time job to be your full-time job." Man-for-man replacement on shift vacancies
- Specific department-wide responsibilities for all company officers (1984)
- Three Department awards ceremonies (1985, 1987, 1989)
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| Station 4 - December 13, 2014 - L-R: Lieut. Jeff Naples, Batt. Chief John Spencer, Ff. John Coughlin, Chief Tramontano, Ff. Brian Gagnon and Ff. Chip Talmadge |
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Retired Hamden Fire Chief John Tramontano stopped in at Station 4 while he was in town one weekend last December. Lieut. Jeff Naples and his crew gave the Chief the grand tour. It was the former chief's first visit to 4's since renovations were completed two years earlier.
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| R.I.P. |
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Photo Credits: Dennis Baker, Robin Chait, David Johnson, Michael Kurtz, Barbara Larsen,
Tara Tramontano Madison, Robert Mordecai, I.A. Sneiderman, David Strawhince, Domenic Vaccaro,
The Hamden Chronicle, the Hamden Historical Society and The New Haven Sunday Register
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015
Website is updated every Friday.
Important interim updates will be posted when necessary.
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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| Firefighter Dennis Baker on Engine 3 during a 1982 training exercise (Tramontano photo) |
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| Ff. Freddie Fletcher |
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Late Saturday afternoon forty-five years ago this weekend, two Co. 5 volunteers were busy performing a little building maintenance Station 5. One of the volunteers was carefully repainting the lettering above the front door. The other was painting the shingles on the bay window.
At about 5:15, Firefighter Fred Fletcher appeared outside on the ramp to critique to boys' paint job. Even though the men were supposed to remain in their khakis until the 6 o'clock change of shift, Fred was now back in his dress blues, all set to go home. He was jumping the gun.
Chomping his trademark cigar, Fred began eyeballng volunteer firefighter John Blasius, who was standing on a ladder, brush in hand, slapping fresh paint onto the front of the bay window. Looking down, John couldn't help noticing Fred in his dress blues.
"Hey Fred," shouted Blasius, "what the hell ya doing all dressed up like that? Don't you know that we're gonna have a 10-8 in fifteen minutes?"
Fred muttered something, dismissing Blasius' razzing with a wave of his cigar as he walked back inside the station.
At 5:37, Dispatcher Wilbur Baker sounded the alert bells in all stations. "Engine 9, Engine 5, Engine 4, Rescue 2, and Ladder 1, we have a report of a basement fire at 35 Huntington Circle." (Gotcha, Fred!)
Posted 9/18/15
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| New Haven Journal-Courier, Sept. 21, 1970 (Courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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September 19, 1970
35 Huntington Circle
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Hose crew meets the unexpected
while descending hatchway steps
The news article doesn't mention it, but Lt. Bill Hines and Ff. Dave Howe got a big surprise when they advanced an 1-1/2" hoseline down smoke-filled hatchway stairs to extinguish a basement fire at 35 Huntington Circle. After the second or third step, there were no more steps.
Hoseman Howe stepped into thin air, sailing toward the concrete basement floor. He was followed by Lt. Hines, who fell atop the much larger Howe. Fortunately (and amazingly) neither man was hurt.
For the last 45 years those who were at the scene have chuckled about what might have happened if, instead of Hines landing on Howe, the much larger and heavier Ff. Howe had fallen atop the thinner and slightly built Lt. Hines. Some speculated that a giant spatula would have been needed to scrape Bill up off the concrete basement floor.
We can chuckle about it now, but the incident was a sobering reminder to all firefighters to never assume anything when you can't see what's in front of you.
Posted 9/18/15
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| New Haven Journal-Courier, Sept. 21, 1970 (Courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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September 19, 1970
35 Huntington Circle
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Hose crew meets the unexpected
while descending hatchway steps
The news article doesn't mention it, but Lt. Bill Hines and Ff. Dave Howe got a big surprise when they advanced an 1-1/2" hoseline down smoke-filled hatchway stairs to extinguish a basement fire at 35 Huntington Circle. After the second or third step, there were no more steps.
Hoseman Howe stepped into thin air, sailing toward the concrete basement floor. He was followed by Lt. Hines, who fell atop the much larger Howe. Fortunately (and amazingly) neither man was hurt.
For the last 45 years those who were at the scene have chuckled about what might have happened if, instead of Hines landing on Howe, the much larger and heavier Ff. Howe had fallen atop the thinner and slightly built Lt. Hines. Some speculated that a giant spatula would have been needed to scrape Bill up off the concrete basement floor.
We can chuckle about it now, but the incident was a sobering reminder to all firefighters to never assume anything when you can't see what's in front of you.
Posted 9/18/15
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| The New Haven Journal-Courier, Wednesday, September 23, 1970 |
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| The New Haven Register, Tuesday, September 22, 1970 (Courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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| (Photo by Ed Doiron, Jr.) |
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Ed Doiron, Jr. took this photo of Hamden's newest Rescue 1, on a GMC chassis, shortly after it was placed in service at Station 4 in April 1988. Gamewell Box 118 can been seen mounted between the bay doors. It was previously located on a utility pole at the southeast corner of Whitney and Dixwell Avenues. Hamden's Gamewell alarm system was removed from service ten years later.
Posted 9/18/15
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Spark Time
"Jumbo" from Long Island
Last Saturday's Annual Engine 260 Muster in Milford featured this fully restored 1906 Nott steamer powered by a 1916 American-LaFrance tractor belonging to the Village of Freeport on Long Island. According to the owners, the erstwhile horse-drawn Nott steamer, nicknamed "Jumbo," was purchased in 1906 for the Wide Awake Engine Co. No. 1. The American-LaFrance tractor was purchased ten years later for $4,250. It was a first line piece until it was replaced by a new 1928 American-LaFrance pumper.
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According to literature that accompanied this pumper at the Engine 260 muster, "On January 30, 1938 after a major furniture store fire on Main Street, 'Jumbo' was pressed into service for the first time in ten years. After many hours pumping out the basement, 'Jumbo' blew her boiler tubes and never went back into actual fire service again."
Below is Westhampton Beach (Long Island) Fire Department's 1925 Brockway chemical truck, which was the main attraction of this year's muster. Pictured below the 1925 Brockway is Hamden's Mix District Volunteer Co. 7's 1918 Brockway chemical truck, which was at the muster 32 years earlier.
Posted 9/18/15
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| 1925 Brockway, owned and operated by the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, Long Island |
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| 9/10/1983 - Co. 7's 1918 Brockway - L-R: Vic Mitchell, John Gustafson, Danny Wetmore, and Jim Wetmore at the wheel. |
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| Sign-up Deadline September 25th |
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Department Members Welcome Local Child with Leukemia
This New Haven Register front page article appeared this past Wednesday, September 16th.
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| The New Haven Register, Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - pg. 2 |
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For more information about Christian's October 3rd fundraiser,
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It's especially appropriate to conclude this website update with an incredible view of Chief John Tramontano celebrating the Town of Hamden atop Mt. Bowlen, nearly two miles above sea level, in the Valley of the Ten Peaks on the border of Alberta and British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies. The Chief made the climb with Capt. Bill Coppola in the summer of 1984.
Posted 9/18/15
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| Photo taken by Bill Coppola, courtesy of Chief Tramontano's daughter, Tara Tramontano Madison |
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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| Chief Tramontano |
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Saying "Goodbye"
Scores of active and retired career and volunteer personnel, as well as many friends, family members and town officials gathered last Saturday morning at Hamden's Memorial Town Hall to pay their respects to former Hamden Fire Chief John Tramontano, who passed away at his New Hampshire home during the first week of September.
Chief David Berardesca praised Tramontano's many ground breaking achievements which included, among other things, the Mountain Rescue Team, helping to establish Central Communications, the introduction of mandatory fire certification training for all personnel and increasing the complement of department company officers by two-thirds. Mayor Curt Leng spoke of the Chief's 34-year career and also paid tribute to his many department contributions.
Retired Hamden firefighter, Rev. Ralph Purificato, of North Haven's Liberty Community Church, conducted a brief prayer service in which he praised Tramontano's service to his department, his firefighters, and the Town of Hamden. Capt. Dave Johnson (Ret.) and Batt. Chief Bill Coppola (Ret.) offered their remembrances of Tramontano's career milestones and his passion for mountain climbing.
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| Firefighter David Beaton and Capt. Brion Tierney standing Honor Guard prior to Saturday's Department Memorial Service |
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Chief Tramontano's daughter, Tara Tramontano Madison, paid an emotional tribute to her dad. She spoke of the special relationship she shared with him, particularly in the many outdoor activities the Chief enjoyed. She praised and thanked Chief Berardesca and the members of the Hamden Fire Department for conducting the Memorial Service. Tara extended a special thank-you to Deputy Chief Gary Merwede, who did an outstanding job of planning, organizing and coordinating the entire event.
The one-hour service concluded with one of the department's pipers, Capt. Ed Evers, playing "Amazing Grace," while an Honor Guard of active and retired department members solemnly escorted Asst. Supt. Harold Mangler (Ret.) carrying the Chief's ashes to a place of honor on Squad 1 in front of Town Hall.
With the assistance of the Hamden Police Department, Squad 1's Lieut. Jeff Naples and his crew carried out a symbolic ceremonial response, returning Chief John Richard Tramontano back home to Station 4.
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| Saluting the Chief for his last ride home |
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| Capt. Ed Evers pipes "Amazing Grace" |
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| Returning Home - Squad 1 arrives at Station 4 |
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Following the Memorial Service, HFRA President Robert Mordecai presented Chief Tramontano's daughter Tara with a memorial plaque honoring her father's service in the Hamden Fire Department. Memorial plaques are presented annually to the families of HFRA members who have passed during the year. (CLICK to enlarge)
| Ten of the approximately thirty Hamden Fire Deprtment retirees who attended Chief Tramontano's service are pictured here at a reception held at Eli's following the service. Seated (L-R): Bill Coppola, Bob Mordecai, Bob Viglione, Ray Dobbs, Bob Kenney, Kerry Castracane and Harold Mangler. Standing: Bill Fitzmaurice, Dave Johnson and Chick Manware. (CLICK to enlarge)
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Memorial Service photos by Dan Johnson, Tara Madison, D/C Gary Merwede, Lt. Bob Mordecai (Ret.) and Lt. Daryl Osiecki.
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Kobbe Promoted to Captain
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| Assistant Town Clerk Joann Leone administers the oath |
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| D/C Merwede, Capt. Kobbe and Chief Berardesca |
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Family and friends, including active and retired department members, gathered Thursday morning in the rotunda of Memorial Town Hall to witness Paul Kobbe sworn in as the department's newest captain. Captain Kobbe, a fifteen year department veteran, fills the vacancy created on Platoon 4 when Ron Desroches was promoted to battalion chief a couple of weeks ago. He will be assigned to Station 2.
The members of the HFRA congratulate Captain Kobbe and wish him all the very best in his new assignment.
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30 Years Ago - GLORIA!
The department's regular Thursday Communications Bulletin for September 26, 1985 announced, "there is the possibility that we may experience severe weather from the hurricane . . ." She wasn't even mentioned by name, but Gloria nailed us. Over $90 million in damages were estimated statewide and two storm-related fatalities were reported locally. More in next week's update. (Note also the new staffing of the truck company at Station 3.)
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This photo of Hamden's 1938 Diamond-T Emergency Squad was snapped during a 1939
pump testing exercise at the Mill River on the east side of Whitney Avenue.
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| 1939 - Testing the pump on the 1938 Emergency Squad at Mill River on Whitney Avenue (Photo courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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| (Photo courtesy of Gil Spencer) |
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Engine 5, Mt. Carmel's 1930 Maxim 600 GPM pumper, can be seen in the background.
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65 Years Ago!
This radio/TV relay tower atop Sleeping Giant was located near the Tower.
Vestiges of its foundation still exist, but the tower itself is long gone.
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| The Hamden Chronicle, September 28, 1950 (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
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WHO'S THIS GUY?
(and did his bowtie spin around?)
Any idea who this guy is/was? Answer next Friday.
Regular web visitors might be surprised.
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CLICK to enlarge
| CLICK to enlarge
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| Sign-up Deadline September 25th |
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