| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| SUMMER BULLETIN BOARD
HFRA weekly website updates will resume Friday, September 8th.
Important announcements will be posted immediately above the masthead.
This Summer HOME page "bulletin board" will be updated from time to time.
Keep checking!
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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National Organizations Accepting Donations to
Help Victims of Harvey Flooding
AmeriCares provides emergency supplies and medical care.
Team Rubicon “unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.”
Posted 9/2/17
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Residents Invited to Connecticut’s Annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman are inviting members of the public to attend the State of Connecticut’s 16th annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, honoring and celebrating the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The ceremony will commence at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.
Posted 9/4/17
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| CLICK TO ENLARGE POSTER |
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| Mark your calendars!
2017 (46th Annual) Engine 260 Muster
Next Saturday, September 9
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eisenhower Park, Milford
(Click on the poster at left to enlarge.)
Posted 9/2/17
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Off-Duty Hamden Firefighter Pulls Inured Driver From Burning Auto
Remarkable act caught on iPhone video
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| Off-duty Hamden Firefighter Tom Parazino rescuing driver from blazing auto |
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| Firefighter Paranzino |
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August 30 - WTNH TV-8 News ran a story yesterday of this remarkable rescue of an injured man from his blazing auto across the street from Station 4 on Whitney Avenue. The unidentified driver was pulled from his flaming car by off-duty Hamden Firefighter Tom Paranzino, who is assigned to Station 4 on Platoon 4. The rescue, which happened a few days ago, was caught on the iPhone on an unidentified pedestrian in front of Eli's-on-Whitney.
According to the story, the man's car hit the utility pole nearly opposite Station 4, rolled over, then caught fire. Firefighter/Paramedic Paranzino, who was off duty at the time and had no protective gear on, ran toward the burning vehicle and pulled the man to safety. In an interview with TV-8, Paranzino said he didn't consider himself a hero. Put simply, he said, "We love our job - you just do it." Kudos to Firefighter Paranzino, from your future brothers and sisters at the HFRA!
Posted 8/30/17
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Hamden Firefighters Rescue Dog
from Cliff in West Rock Ridge State Park
Multi-town Effort Saves Trapped Canine
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| Hamden Firefighter Scott Blake is lowered to reach trapped dog |
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Saturday, August 26 - The Hamden Fire Department was dispatched at 10:59 this morning to West Rock Ridge State Park to assist in a multi-agency rescue operation located on the western cliffs overlooking Woodbridge.
Hamden Central Communications received a call for assistance from the Woodbridge Animal Control Officer (ACO) and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection that a dog was trapped on a ledge that was not safely accessible from below.
The technical rescue box assignment from Hamden was sent to Baldwin Drive to set up a lowering operation, so a firefighter could access the trapped animal from the cliff above and provide assistance.
Hamden Battalion Chief Richard Otlowski took Command of the operation (IC) from Baldwin Drive, and coordinated the efforts of the
Woodbridge Fire Department (operating below the cliffs), the DEEP and Animal Control Officers.
Firefighter Scott Blake (HFD) was lowered 60 feet to reach the trapped pit-bull mix. It took some time for the firefighter to gain the trust of the dog, who appeared to have minor injuries consistent with exposure and scrambling on unstable rocky ledges.
Firefighter Blake was able to use Woodbridge's ACO equipment lowered to him to take hold of the dog. Utilizing the rope system, both were lowered to members of the Woodbridge Fire Department, who took the dog and guided it to safety on the trail system leading out of the park.
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| Firefighters used multiple anchors and haul systems. (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| Firefighter Scott Blake (left) is assisted back up by Capt. Ed Evers (CLICK to enlarge) |
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Hamden Firefighters (above left) used multiple anchors and haul systems to bring Firefighter Scott Blake back up the cliff. Captain Edwin Evers (above right) is shown assisting Firefighter Blake as he is hauled back to the top of the cliff.
The entire rescue operation took approximately two hours.
For information on the condition of the rescued dog, please contact the Woodbridge Animal Control Officer. At this time it is unknown exactly how the dog managed to work its way to the high and inhospitable location in the park, or who owns the animal.
Posted 8/26/17
This article and all photographs were provided by the Fire Chief's Office.
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Livestream recorded video of the lifting operation can be found
on the Hamden Fire Department Twitter feed.
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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August 18 - A brand new full-size Class A pumper was placed in service yesterday afternoon at Mt. Carmel's Station 5. The new Smeal 1,500 g.p.m. pumper, technically a "Quint," also carries 1,000 feet of 5" supply line, a 485-gallon tank, an array of ground ladders, and is equipped with a 75-foot rear-mount aerial ladder.
As Engine 5, the new quint will respond as a regular pumping engine when it is first and second due. When third due on box assignments for working fires, when its crew is an RIT, Engine 5 may also operate as a truck company.
The new Smeal quint replaces the department's spare pumper, Engine 1, which had served as Engine 5 since the 2005 Ferrara was sold recently.
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| The 75-foot aerial ladder on the Smeal "Quint" |
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| This handy roll-out tray carries 1,000' of 5" |
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On hand at Station 5 for yesterday's inauguration of the new Engine 5 were, from left to right, Commissioners Eric Curtis, Richard Reilly, Henry Candido, and James O'Brien, Chief David Berardesca, Firefighter Jaime Bonet, Capt. Greg Bannon, Firefighter Zach Criscuolo, Dep. Chief Gary Merwede, and Lieut. Charles Lubowicki, department training officer.
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Firefighter Zachary Criscuolo assists as Firefighter Jaime Bonet backs the new rig into the Raymond K. Spencer Memorial Annex at Mount Carmel's Station 5. It's tight, but it fits.
The annex to Station 5 was built onto the 1925 station by the Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Company in 1975, and currently is the newest "new construction" for Hamden's career fire apparatus. Hamden's newest free standing fire station is the "Ridge Road Fire Station" No. 3 at 441 Hartford Tpke, dedicated November 1, 1970.
One hour and one minute after being placed in service, the new Engine 5 responded on its first run, a natural gas emergency, at 1601 hours. Check out the video of the response by clicking on the icon below. (The video, courtesy of the Fire Chief's Office, may appear sideways on some internet service providers).
Posted 8/17/17
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| Hamden's 1930 Maxim 600 GPM pumper |
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Mt. Carmel's New Pumper
Until now, apparatus assigned to Mt. Carmel were typically hand-me-downs that were assigned to other fire stations when new. But this new Smeal 1,500 g.p.m. pumper is the first new full-size pumper to be assigned to Station 5 since a new Maxim 600 g.p.m. pumper was delivered to Mt. Carmel on January 6, 1930. (A new Ford/Pierce "fast attack" mini-pumper was assigned to Station 5 in 1978, but it was not a Class A pumper.)
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Hamden Professional Firefighters' Annual Golf Tournament
Thursday, September 14th
Scroll down for more info on the association's poster.
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Mutual Aid - 68 Maple Avenue, North Haven
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| Thursday, August 3, 68 Maple Avenue, North Haven |
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Friday, August 4 - During the height of yesterday's heat and humidity, Hamden's Engine 3 with Cars 1, 2, 3 and 4 responded on a call by the North Haven Fire Department for mutual aid, as they fought a nasty fire that heavily damaged the home of an on-duty North Haven firefighter at 68 Maple Avenue.
Engine 3 and Car 4 acted as a four-man company on the 3rd floor, encountering heavy fire behind knee walls and in attic spaces.
After Engine 3's second rehab, Engine 5 was called to the scene and Engine 3 was released back to Hamden.
Hamden Volunteer Cos. 7 and 8 were called to man their stations while a company was out of town, although no responses occurred during the stand-by. Hamden CERT was called to the scene to assist with rehab.
According to published news reports, four firefighters at this call were overcome by smoke inhalation and a fifth was hospitalized for evaluation. There is no word on the firefighter's condition.
Posted 8/4/17
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Hamden's Community Emergency Reponse Team (CERT) also responded to assist with on-scene rehab, which was a godsend for the firefighters in the extreme heat and humidity. The website thanks Hamden CERT for these photos.
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House Fire - 4400 Whitney Avenue
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| Photo courtesy of the Hamden Fire Department |
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Thursday, July 27 - At 11:48 this morning, Hamden Central Communications received a call from the resident of 4400 Whitney Avenue, who reported that his home was on fire. The lone male occupant was able to self-rescue and escaped with burns and smoke inhalation.
Engine 5 arrived on scene first, at 11:54. The homeowner was found curbside, reporting a working fire at the address. Fire suppression operations were initiated by the engine company and Rescue 1 personnel tended to the patient, who was subsequently transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
The crew of Engine 5 encountered a heavy volume of fire at the front doorway leading to the living room. While most of the fire was contained to the living room, heat and smoke damage were evident throughout the first floor.
Additional fire companies checked for fire extension and began ventilation and salvage operations. Battalion Chief Richard Otlowski declared the fire under control at 12:22.
During firefighting operations, the Hamden Police Department closed Whitney Avenue and held trucks and busses. Regular passenger automobiles were rerouted through narrow residential streets around the emergency scene.
Fire Marshal Brian Dolan has determined the origin of the fire to be a recently installed propane supplied fireplace insert. The exact cause of the fire within the appliance or adjacent connections remains under investigation at this time.
The photo shows the entry way to the home just after the initial fire attack.
Posted 7/27/17
The info in this article and the fire photograph were provided by the Fire Chief's Office.
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A Hamden Professional Firefighters team has been created for a cycling event called
"CLOSER TO FREE"
The ride is on September 9, 2017. Registration ends on September 5th.
We are looking for any members who would like to participate.
Starting and ending at the historic Yale Bowl, the CTF Ride features four professionally-designed and fully-supported routes: 10 miles, 25 miles, 62.5 miles and the iconic CTF Century at 100 miles.
You'll ride alongside cancer survivors and those riding in honor of those they’ve lost. Every dollar raised supports patient care and research at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. To register as a participant with team Hamden Professional Firefighters, or to make a donation to the team, please click the link below:
CLICK HERE: Ride "Closer to Free"
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35th Meeting of the HFRA Well Attended
The 2017 Summer meeting of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association attracted about two dozen members. Mr. Todd Levine, an architectural historian with the State of Connecticut and Chairman of Hamden's Historic Properties Commission fielded questions from members regarding the Association's desire to obtain use of the 1909 red schoolhouse in West Woods for a fire museum.
Following the meeting, member Brian Forsyth and his kitchen staff at the Elks provided a variety of great food for the members. Meeting minutes will be posted on the Member's Only page as soon as they have been typed. A link will be provided here, as well as more photos.
Posted 7/12/17
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| 21 of the members who attended the HFRA's Summer Meeting at the Elks. CLICK to enlarge |
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Standing (L-R): Rev. Owen Sanderson, Jack Mordecai, Bob Macauley, Austin Williams, Bob Viglione, Ray Dobbs, Kerry Castracane, Don LaBanca, Paul Frodel, Jim Leddy, Bob Surprise, Harold Mangler, Bill Fitzmaurice, Dennis Baker, and Dave Johnson.
Seated (L-R): Doug Yocher, Tom Doherty, Chick Manware, Bob Mordecai, Gil Spencer, and Mark Barletta. (Todd Levine photo.)
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Hamden's Newest Apparatus is Here!
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| 2016 Smeal "Quint" (Fire Chief's Office) |
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The Hamden Fire Department has taken delivery of its latest piece of apparatus, a 2016 Smeal quintuple combination pumper, or "quint." The apparatus will serve as a dual purpose engine (pumper) and a 75 ft. ladder truck.
The nickname "Quint" (derived from quintuple) refers to a vehicle with five functions that provides a pump, 500 gallon water tank, fire hose, aerial device, and ground ladders capabilities. Once personnel have been trained on this new apparatus, it will be assigned to Station 5 as Engine 5. This expected to happen sometime in early August. We will have plenty of photos.
Website thanks to the Fire Chief's Office for providing this article and photograph.
Posted 7/12/17
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28 YEARS AGO!
Hamden Tornado
Monday, July 10, 1989
An F4 tornado ripped through southern Hamden, leaving damages in the millions of dollars. The 1989 tornado was an incredible challenge for the department.
This video of the aftermath was shot the next day. While tape rolled, commentary was added occasionally to establish exact locations because many areas were unrecognizable.
Re-posted 7/10/17
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November 20th publication date for
Hamden Firefighting
Arcadia Press has announced that the publication of Hamden Firefighting is set for Monday, November 20th. The 128-page pictorial history, in Arcadia's popular Image of America series, chronicles the story of the Hamden Fire Department from the formation of the town's first organized fire company in 1896 to the present day.
Well over 200 photographs of individual fire companies, vintage fire apparatus, major fires and other emergencies, as well as group photographs of firefighters from virtually every generation of the department's career and volunteer personnel, help to tell the colorful 120-year story of the HFD.
Hamden Firefighting will be sold at all major bookstores and on Amazon. It also will be available through the Hamden Fire Retirees Association and the Hamden Historical Society, which will share equally in all royalties from the book.
Posted 7/'7/17
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Non-Members May Subscribe to HFRA archived web pages.
For a $10 annual subscription, non-HFRA members may access
all HFRA archives, except the "Members Only" pages.
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NEVER FORGET!
We will always remember our brother firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice, and the thousands of other innocent victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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