Skip to content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer

Author: Mike Colon

March 22, 2024 in Announcements

Two New Center District Members Sworn In

Wednesday night marked the beginning of two firefighting careers in the Center District. First on the career side is Joseph Mauro, a coast guard veteran who graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy in December from Recruit Class 72 he joins us through the Hero 2 Hero program founded by Chris Shea, a Naval Special Operations veteran. On the Volunteer side is Olivia Caldarella, an intern at our department and senior at the University of New Haven, she was sworn in as a member of Hook & Ladder Co. 1 where she’ll begin what we hope and believe will be a long fruitful journey in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter with Truck 26. Congratulations to both and welcome to the West Haven Fire Department.

March 22, 2024 in What We're Up To

Truck 22 Deck Gun Training

The opportunities to train during the 24 hours of the shift provide us ample chances to stay sharp with helpful refreshers or in the cases of our newer members, learn key facets of our apparatus and the equipment on it. In this instance, it involved testing out the water flow of our deck guns aboard our Truck 22.

March 21, 2024 in What We're Up To

Smoke Simulation at Headquarters

Contrary to what you may be thinking as you watch this video, no our headquarters is not on fire. Rather what you’re seeing is a demonstration, more specifically a training on smoke and operating with low or no visibility in it. Utilizing a special device that produces harmless smoke, members of the C-Shift participated in this drill and though it certainly made for an eerie sight, it was a realistic one, as these are often the conditions we face on the ground.

March 21, 2024 in What We're Up To

The B-Shift Trains in Bailout at the New Haven Fire School

For members of the B-Shift, last week presented yet another opportunity to train at the New Haven Fire School, and what made this training stick out is its mixture. Focusing on a variety of different disciplines, our members spent this sunny Friday morning working on engine operations, aerial operations including rescue scenarios and general driver training and last but certainly not least bailout training. In training, we always try to not only take advantage of the opportunities to do it in the first place, but also not be in linear in it.

March 21, 2024 in History

Throwback Thursday: 1938 Annual Ball

Here is a dance card from the 1938 Annual Ball hosted by North End Hose Company #3. These cards were actual works of art. It is one of several from our collection. I thought this would be appropriate because of the St. Patrick’s Day theme.

March 21, 2024 in AnnouncementsWhat We're Up To

Congratulations to Deputy Chief William Johnson on Completing 39 Years

We’d like to congratulate Deputy Chief of Administration William Johnson on completing his 39th year with our department.

Chief Johnson began his career with us on March 14, 1985, and has served in several roles over the years including Lieutenant of which he was promoted to on November 7, 2001, Day Captain on May 5, 2020, and his current rank of Deputy Chief on March 23, 2021.

Chief Johnson is one of 8 members to complete 35 years with our department and stands to soon surpass the amount of time his father, late Chief of Department William Johnson Sr. (shown in the second photograph and on the left in the first photograph), served in the Center District at 40 years and 7 months (July 1, 1966 through February 22, 2007)

February 1, 2024 in What We're Up To

How We Respond

Driving through the streets with a purpose THIS is how our members respond when dispatched. Eager and prepared to help, we always drive through these streets responsibly and cautiously, but with a never wavering commitment to arrive and aid those who’ve called us.

January 25, 2024 in What We're Up To

What We’re Up To: Low Angle Rescue

You’ve heard of high angle rescues perhaps but equal in importance is low angle rescues. In situations where victims are trapped in vehicles, ditches, as well as embankments. Though challenging, our rope system provides critical balance to both ourselves and those we are aiding by having the ground bare most of the weight.

January 19, 2024 in Announcements

After 32 Years, Captain Jim Mcnulty Retires

The West Haven Fire Department would like to congratulate Captain James “Jim” McNulty on his retirement after 32 years of dedicated service to our great city. Captain McNulty was appointed to our department on July 22, 1991, and worked as a firefighter for 17 years before his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant on September 14, 2008.

After the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Captain McNulty was one of several members of the Center District to head down to the site of the World Trade Center in New York City, where he would assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, extending his service beyond just our city.

Promoted again this time to the rank of Captain on April 15, 2020, he has for the last three years led the department’s “A” shift, offering a respected veteran presence and helping train our newer members. We salute him for a truly outstanding career and exemplary record of service and wish him all the best in his retirement. Thank you and once more congratulations, Captain!