Dateline Fairfield February 13^th 2010

An elderly Fairfield woman and her home health aide narrowly escaped flames in their Sasco River Lave home. After noticing flames in the home the residents quickly left the home and went to a nearby neighbor who made the call to 911.

Engine 4 arrived a short time later reporting heavy fire showing from the structure.  Car 3 arrived and assumed command confirming engine 4’s report and added that about 50% of the structure was involved in fire. Additional units were called to the scene. Engines 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, Ladders 2, 1, Rescue 1, Westport Engine 2, Maintenance 1, Car 2, FM1 all operated at the scene.

Crews battle the blaze bringing it under control in about 30 minutes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.

Dear Elected Officials,

As we approach another budget season we are already hearing grumbles of cuts and reductions to service that we as fire fighters perform. We continue to hear, “This is going to be a tough budget year.” “We have to cut, cut, and cut.” “We have to tighten our belts and share the financial pain that everyone is feeling.” Odds are at this point, as hard as we have tried, you still don't seem to understand the need for our department, YOUR fire department, to be well prepared and fully able to respond quickly when our citizens call 9-1-1 for a fire. This has nothing to do with HOW MANY fires we have----it has everything to do with EVERY fire we have.

Actually, at this point you are probably tired of hearing our reasons why THE FIRE DEPARTMENT must be the only department that does not get cut in any area related to our ability to respond and protect our citizens. We absolutely feel that way. Public safety the MOST IMPORTANT service provided in our community.

Sure, the number of serious fires we have has decreased dramatically over the years. This is due to the diligent work of our members in fire prevention and education of the public. Our reach into the community helps our citizens understand why they should be fire safety smart. Educating residents on why the importance of having a working smoke detector in their homes is so important and can save their lives. Teaching our children at an early age about good fire safety practices in their homes, with tools like the “Clarence Darrow Life Safety Trailer”, are important parts of our daily job.

 But despite our best efforts fires still do occur and when we do have one, please understand how real it can be. The below video will show you that very, very dramatically. It is very real as far as happening in our own community. And when it does, because it has happened in the past, (Quincy Condo in Southport on 2 occasions) and will happen again on the future, the question will be: did we have the available firefighters, the training, open firehouses and response times to assure that those citizens have a chance?

 So as the old saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words" is our next attempt to help you understand. Understand that if our community does not have an adequately trained fire department with the right number of available firefighters and an ability to arrive within minutes of a reported fire, what is worth having in the community?  One question you should be asking yourself is, “If we cannot protect those who elected us, why are we here?”

Please take a moment and watch and listen to the below video. There is every reason to believe the fire in this video can and will eventually happen in any community in the USA. The difference is, you as Elected Officials and we as the firefighters only have ONE community to be concerned about: OURS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR9clmdV3Ak

On 7 – October – 2009 at 2056hrs the Easton Fire Department was dispatched to a bedroom fire at 144 Morehouse Road. The call was initially received by dispatch as an automatic alarm and followed by a 911 from the residence stating there is a bedroom fire.  Easton E-4 was the first arriving unit and noted heavy smoke throughout the home and all occupants out.  The fire in the 9000sq.ft. home was placed under control at 2158hrs. The fire, on the lower level of the home, consumed the bedroom of origin and a bathroom and started down the hall before fire crews were able to contain the fire.  Mutual Aid was received from Fairfield Fire Department (E-2; E-3; L-2; and Car 3) responded directly to the scene, Long Hill Fire Department was requested for station coverage. The residence sustained heavy smoke damage due to the open floor plan and damage is estimated at approx 2+ million.  The fire is still under investigation.

At 0400 on Monday November 9, 2009 the Fairfield Fire Department responded to a reported tanker fire on I-95 in Fairfield.  The call was received from a passerby who reported fire coming from the rear wheels of a tank truck.  Engines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Ladder 2, Rescue 1 and Car 3 responded.  E-4 was first unit on scene and reported heavy fire coming from the rear tires of a tanker truck.  The truck was labeled with a “flammable placard” (#1230) reported to be carrying in excess of 6800 gallons of Methanol, a highly flammable liquid.   

Fairfield firefighters initiated an immediate fire attack to extinguish the fire and protect the exposed tank. Large hose streams were used to cool and protect the tank and its hazardous cargo.  The fire confined to the rear tires and axle was quickly brought under control.  Protective booms and dykes were set up by firefighters to minimize environmental impact  I-95 remains closed northbound in the area of the Exit 19 NB entrance ramp.

Evacuation of Residents: According to the Emergency Management  an emergency evacuation center was opened in the Roger Ludlow High School cafeteria. The evacuation center will remain open until 1030 AM.  The Fairfield Emergency Reverse 911 system was used to notify residents in the area of Kings Drive that a precautionary evacuation was required.  Reverse 911 was utilized to notify over 80 homes.  Fairfield Police coordinated the evacuation.  School lunch shifts at Fairfield Ludlow HS will not be affected.

Regional foam trailers were dispatched to the scene. The CT DEP and the Fairfield County Haz Mat Team also responded. Fire Units from Bridgeport and Westport provided mutual aid standby coverage during the incident.

I-95 remains closed at this time.   CT Tank is offloading residual product from the affected container.  Fairfield Fire Units under the command of A/C Scott Bisson remain on scene providing standby coverage during the offload procedure.

Elected officials from Fairfield, Stratford , and Easton were the invited guests today for the 2009 Fairfield County Fire Ops 101 program held in Fairfield at the Elias Fire Training School. The program is designed to give officials a walk in the shoes of a fire fighter by allowing them to work side by side with fire fighters in actual fire training exercises. The program was co hosted by fire fighters from Fairfield Local 1426, Easton Local 1426 and Stratford Local 998.

 Participants took part in evolutions to simulate what it would be like at a fire scene by breaking open a door, searching a smoke filled room, stretching a hose line into a basement to extinguish a fire, carry and climb a ladder to a roof, cut a vent hole in a roof using a power saw, extricate a victim from an automobile accident with the “Jaws of Life”, and performing lifesaving CPR.

“We put them through a very controlled training environment today. We wanted them to get a feel for what we do every day, but we wanted them to feel safe and be confident in what they were doing. All the participants did fantastic.” Stated Local 1426 event co-coordinator Scott Bisson.

Participants included, from Fairfield  State Representative Kim Fawcett and from Easton First Selectman Tom Herrmann. “I think Kim and Tom did great.”, said Local 1426 executive board member Justin Greenhaw “ They performed every function we gave them. It’s not an easy thing to walk in off the street and do this kind of stuff. They should be proud of what they did here today.”

“The purpose of this whole program is let our elected officials see what it’s like to do our job.” Local 1426 President Bob Smith said “If they walk in our shoes they can help make smart decisions about the things we ask for at budget time. We know financial times are tough but sometimes you just can’t do more with less and be safe while you are doing it.”

“We are glad that Kim and Tom could take the time to give up a whole day away from their families and show that they care about our safety.” Said Local 1426 Secretary Phil Higgins

Local 1426 Trustee Bill Tuttle added, “It was great to work with our Brothers from Stratford and Easton today. Each town and city have different financial wants and needs but we can’t let the victim of budget cuts be public safety. It’s important to get our message out and I think we were able to do that today.”

“This was the second time the FireOPS 101 program was held in Fairfield and we are already looking forward and planning for next year. “said Chris Tracy director of the Elias Fire Training school and Local 1426 member.

Dateline Fairfield August 7th 2009   Fairfield CT: On Friday August 7, 2009 at 1553 hrs. the Fairfield Fire Department responded to a report of a train on fire at the north side of the Fairfield Train Station, 205 Unquowa Road, Fairfield CT.  An AMR ambulance crew reported the fire.  They observed heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of the locomotive as the train pull past the train platform on the NY bound side of the tracks.  Fairfield Fire Department Engine 1, 2, 3, 4, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, and Car 3 responded. 

Rescue 1 arrived on scene and reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof of the locomotive car on the front of a southbound passenger train.  The train was operated by the Connecticut DOT and contained no passengers at the time of the fire. The conductor told firefighters that he was in the locomotive when it began filling with smoke.  He brought the train to a stop just past the station platform and attempted to shut down the train’s diesel engine using the emergency control.  The emergency shut down control switch did not work.  According to metro north mechanics, the fire originated in the engine turbo charger and burned through the emergency control wiring, disabling the switch. The ceiling of the car, the turbo charge unit, and diesel fuel was burning inside the car.

Fire fighters using full turn out gear and breathing apparatus entered the locomotive section of and extinguished the main body of the fire with dry chemical fire extinguishers. Metro North mechanics assisted firefighters with shutting down the diesel engine.  Metro North Police and Emergency Crews worked closely with Fairfield Fire Fighters to coordinate the shut down of tracks 3 and 1 on the NY Bound line.  Electrical power and train service was shut down for approximately 30 minutes on the southbound NY line while firefighters completed the extinguishment of the fire. Service was restored at approximately 5:00PM. No injuries were reported. 

Check out the photo gallery section under main menu to see updated photos from:

The 2009 BARF Mass, 2009 Relay for Life, 2009 Concert on the Green, 2009 Memorial Day, Darrow Safety Trailer dedication ceremony, 2009 Whitehead Legislative conference in Washington DC. and much more....

Dateline Fairfield August 1st 2009

The members of Local 1426 were feeling the heat in a different sort of way on August 1^st 2009 as they hit the pavement on Black Rock Turnpike and other key locations around town for the annual “Fill the Boot” drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Temps in the high 80’s and humidity at close to 100% wouldn’t keep them from their goal of collecting as much money as possible for MDA.

For the sixth straight year Local 1426 teamed up with Trader Joe’s for their “Community Day” where they cook Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, provide the entertainment (DJ Jimmy was great) and balloons and face painting for the kids. All proceeds from the event are graciously donated to the 1426 “Fill the Boot”.

“We can’t thank Trader Joe’s enough for all they have done to help promote this event and make the “Fill the Boot “drive a huge success.”, Said Local 1426 Secretary and MDA Co-Chair Phil Higgins. “It really is a community day.”

Local 1426 carries on the proud tradition of collecting money for MDA started some 40 years ago in Fairfield. MDA is the national charity of the IAFF and fire fighters across both the USA and Canada have helped raise over $300 Million dollars since the first boot drive back in 1954 in Boston.

Local 1426 President Bob Smith stated, “It was a very hot day but everyone just did their best to stay cool and raise money. We will sweat it out if we know that the effort will someday, soon I hope, find a cure for all neuromuscular disease.”

Local 1426 has raised close to $80,000 over the last seven years for MDA with the “Fill the Boot” drive and the Santa ride which will be back this December.

A job well done to all those helped out both on duty and off, with set up and clean up, and sorting and counting the money. At the time of this story the final numbers were not in yet but Treasurer Justin Greenhaw stated the total was close to $11,000.