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May 5, 1973

Smoke House Training
New Haven Fire Training School, Hamilton Street

In the spring of 1973, Deputy Chief Training Officer Daniel Hume contacted New Haven Dep. Chief Walter Brocar to arrange for members of Mt. Carmel Volunteer Co. 5 to train in actual fire situations at the New Haven Fire Training School.  This was almost a decade before state firefighter certification, and most municipal fire departments had to conduct their own in-house fire training.

On Saturday, May 5, 1973, Hamden Lieut. Gilbert Spencer and Firefighters Dave Howe, Ed Doiron and Tony Melillo assisted New Haven Fire Department Drillmaster, Capt. Charles Doll, in numerous live fire exercises at the Hamilton Street training ground.  Many of the exercises were documented by Ed Doiron in several dozens slides, some of which are displayed below.

CLICK on the individual photos to enlarge them and to view more information provided with each one.

Morning - Basement fires in the smoke house with SCBAs

NHFD Drillmaster, Capt. Charles Doll
Let 'er rip!
In we go!
Back-up Line
Opening the hatchway for the interior crew.
The application of a fog pattern begins to work.
Fire out!
Getting ready for the next burn
Checking the face mask seal
Afternoon - Fires in the smoke house without SCBAs

NHFD Drillmaster, Capt. Charles Doll, explains the next live fire exercise.
Dave Howe is pump operator on Engine 5
Charged attack and back-up lines are set to go.
HOT and NASTY!
Ready to enter the fire building.
OK - Let's GO!
Smoke begins to turn white.
"It's out!"
"Good job!"
Front Row (L-R): Clark Hurlburt, Ken DeLorme, Gerry Feinberg, Gilbert Estra, Russ DeAlmo, Jim Mathis, Bill Chalmers, and Steve Blennerhassett.
 
Back Row (L-R) - Don Steele, Bill Gee, Dave Johnson, Dean Smith, John Blasius, Steve Law, Paul Moody, Vic Mitchell, Russ Loller, career Ff. Tony "Moonman" Melillo, Lieut. Gil Spencer, and career Ff. Dave Howe.  (Photo by Ed Doiron Sr.)

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