| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
Next regular update is Friday, December 2nd.
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Major Fire: Seramonte Apartments
649 Mix Avenue
NHFD Covers South End During Emergency
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Monday evening, November 28th, at 10:07 p.m., the Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire located in the Seramonte Apartment complex located at 649 Mix Avenue. The first arriving unit at 10:13 reported heavy black smoke pushing from the front [A] side of the two-story multi-family apartment building. Hamden Police Officers assisted by banging on doors to notify and evacuate nearby residents.
After forcing entry, the initial fire attack crew encountered high heat and rolling fire in a first floor apartment. Additional units initiated primary searches throughout the building, all reported negative. The largest volume of fire was located in the rear [C] side of the building and auto-extended out the rear windows to the second floor and attic spaces.
A second alarm was initiated by Incident Commander Ronald Desroches at 10:17 p.m. Entry was forced into attached apartments located at 655 Mix Avenue to prevent extension of the fire to the attic spaces or apartments next door. This effort was successful. Incident Command declared the fire under control at 11:01 p.m.
Hamden volunteer firefighters, the New Haven Fire Department, and AMR assisted with regular call volume elsewhere in town during this incident.
Hamden’s Building Inspector was called to the scene, along with the American Red Cross and Hamden CERT members to assist with displaced residents.
Hamden Fire Marshal Brian Dolan has determined the fire was accidental and originated in apartment B-17, when a pot of boiling oil ignited on a stove top. Four total units were affected by fire and water damage at 649 Mix Avenue. An additional four units at 655 Mix were affected by loss of heat and electrical power.
A total of twenty residents were displaced as a result of this event. One resident was evaluated on scene for smoke inhalation but refused transport. One firefighter received a minor arm injury.
For additional information, please contact the Hamden Fire Marshal’s Office 203-407-3182.
(The website thanks the Fire Chief's Office and Dep. Chief Gary Merwede for providing the article and photos.)
Posted 11/29/16
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Wednesday, November 30
Hamden Police and Firefighter Appreciation Day
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| Hamden Police & Firefighter Appreciation Day Ceremony will be here on the steps of Memorial Town Hall, Wednesday November 30 at 11:30 |
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A very appreciative Hamden resident has organized the first Hamden Police and Firefighter Appreciation Day.
To show our support for this outstanding effort, HFRA members who live in the area are asked to attend a brief but very special presentation for our active Hamden firefighters.
The first annual Hamden Police & Firefighter Appreciation Day ceremony will take place on the steps of Memorial Town Hall, next Wednesday morning at 11:30. Let's have a good turnout!
PRESS RELEASE: Our police and firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us from harm's way. As concern has risen with the increase in violent acts against police officers, Hamden citizen, Arts Commission and Elks member Nancy Torello wanted to show support and say "thank-you" to those who have given so much in service to our community.
"Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to express thanks and show gratitude, not only for what we have but also our first responders."
Nancy has organized what has turned into a very special and impressive community effort. A ceremony will be held on the town hall steps next Wednesday, November 30th at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to come down and show support during the ceremony.
Local businesses and civic organizations have generously donated a variety of goods to show how much they care.
Following the ceremony, Hamden Fire Chief David Berardesca and HFD staff personnel will be served lunch, while 'goodie baskets' will be presented to each career firehouse.
Also on November 30th, Nancy and several volunteers will present Chief Wydra and the Hamden Police Department with a buffet served throughout the day.
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| April 1985 |
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This 1982 Ford Granada station wagon was the department's sixth vehicle since 1961 to be assigned to the shift commanders. It replaced a 1977 Dodge Monaco wagon, and was replaced by the department's first SUV, a 1987 GMC Jimmy.
On July 1, 1983, the vehicle designation of the shift commanders' car was changed from Car 30 to Car 3.
Posted 11/25/16
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| The Hamden Chronicle, Thursday, November 29, 1946 |
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70 Years Ago
In November 1946, the Hamden Fire Department was looking to fill four newly created slots as it prepared for a 67-hour work week. Records suggest that the new hirees were Bob "Bubby" O'Donnell and Vinny Roth, who started January 2, 1947, and Ray Carofano and Sid Trower, who started May 1, 1947.
When these four men were hired in 1947, the department was still operating on an 84-hour workweek. Firefighters worked six 10-hour day shifts, one 24-hour shift, then six 14-hour night shifts, followed by one day off. Wages: $40 a week or 48 cents and hour.
When the department adopted the 67-hour workweek on February 1, 1948, firefighters worked four 10-hours day shifts followed by one day off, then four 14-hour night shifts followed by two days off.
A 1949 act of the state legislature and a townwide referendum in 1950 created a 56-hour workweek for firefighters starting December 1, 1951. The new schedule gave firefighters two days off between the same four 10-hour and four 14-hour night shifts.
The 3-on-3-off 42-hour workweek was inaugurated October 6, 1970; the 24-72 schedule on December 1, 2010.
Posted 11/25/16
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Spark Time
Honorary Member Chan Brainard took lots of photos of Connecticut State Firemen's Association Convention parades in the early 1950s. This Ward-LaFrance pumper belonging to the Borough of Groton is passing by what is left of West Haven's Campbell Avenue overpass for the long-defunct New Haven-Derby Railroad Line. The dilapidated bridge abutment for the overpass, torn down one year earlier, appears to provide local kids with an excellent if not dangerous view of the parade.
Posted 11/25/16
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| August 21, 1954 photo by Chan Brainard |
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Last Sunday, November 20th at 1354 hrs, the Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to a barn fire located at 680 Evergreen Avenue, also known as Broken Arrow Nursery Tree Farm. The original call described a well involved fire.
Engine 5 arrived on scene within two minutes of dispatch and found a fully involved wind driven fire consuming the structure. Lines were stretched to protect from fire exposure to recently delivered inventory stored near the barn. The wind driven fire ignited nearby trees as well. The fire was declared under control at 1420 hrs. No injuries were reported.
The small barn structure was a total loss including some farm equipment stored inside. The Hamden Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. No determination has been made at this time.
For further information, please contact the Hamden Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-407-3181.
A short video clip of the fire condition on arrival can be found on the HFD Twitter page:
[The website thanks the Fire Chief's Office and Dep. Chief Gary Merwede for providing the article, photos and video.)
Posted 11/21/16
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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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