What We’re Up To

A-Shift Firefighter Jeremiah Carrier throughout the week has been instructing a tri-district class meant to educate members of the dangers of blood and airborne diseases and the proper steps to keep safe when responding on medical alarms where patients may potentially be suffering from such diseases. In the fire service, we hold safety on the EMS ground in the same high regard we hold safety on the fire ground, making classes like these essential.

Led by B-Shift Captain Roy Sebas, members both in the classroom and out on the road have been training on the proper techniques of driving an emergency vehicle. Yes, we treat every emergency dispatch with urgency and strive to arrive to the scene as soon as possible, but it’s imperative we do safely. If we get into an accident en route, we unfortunately cannot complete our mission to help the public. Hence why refresher classes like these are so important from our newer members to our more veteran personnel, we all benefit and keep in line with our mission to ensure safety not only for the citizens we serve but ourselves as well.

Our three recruits, currently a part of Connecticut Fire Academy Class 74, had the opportunity to participate recently in a special live burn session held at the Litchfield Fire Academy. Gaining critical training in structure fire response tactics, this training will help sharpen their skill sets for their future careers in the fire service.

At the quarters of Engine 25, C-Shift Lieutenant Gerald Barosy conducted a training session involving the use of griphoists. Used in cases of accident rescue, griphoists assist in lifting, pulling, and lowering vehicles and/or heavy machinery, to gain access to victims. With two steel chains, each chain is wrapped around the heavy load and using pulleys safely and quickly moved away to continue with the mission. One of several tools we have in our arsenal, it is another valuable asset to the Rescue component of our job as firefighters.

KNOW YOUR APPARATUS:

Knowing your tools as a firefighter is a major positive, and that certainly extends to our apparatus. Knowing both the capabilities and limitations of the engine, truck, or rescue enables us to make calculated and informed decisions under pressure. That starts on the training ground. B-Shift Firefighters Erik Stalzer, Steven Beckwith, and a member of the West Shore Fire District analyzed our Engine 21 during a joint training at the New Haven Fire School. Committed to deepening our knowledge, we study our fleet so that in actual emergencies, knowing where our equipment is second nature.

On Sunday, our members gathered on the West Haven Green for our annual Firemen’s Memorial. A time honored tradition in the Center District, this yearly event remembers those who came before us and have sadly since died. Through this annual event, we make sure to always remember them, their families, and the dedicated service they provided for our district and our city. As the ceremony neared its conclusion, a wreath was laid and one by one, members saluted. This year’s ceremony was dedicated to retired Deputy Chief John Patry, who died in 2019 and of whom served our department faithfully and with distinction for 30 years.

SPOTLIGHT ON: CAR 68. Put into service in March 2024, Car 68 is our shift commander’s vehicle designated for the captains of each of our four shifts. Previously slotted in the front seat of Truck 22, 68 takes the shift captain out of 22 and for the first time in our department’s history sees them have their own command vehicle. A 2022 Ford F250, Car 68 carries the captain’s firefighting gear, a water extinguisher, gas meter, radios, flashlight, and a set of irons. A positive change, this new addition to our fleet provides greater flexibility for our captains particularly in establishing incident command as well the proper utilization of personnel at emergency scenes, most notably in providing early reports to other responding companies and quickly dictating the pace and flow of operations.