Fairfield Fire Department

Fairfield News: Cambridge Health & Rehabilitation Center Conducts Fire Drill

#Fairfield CT–On Wednesday, October 18th the Cambridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, located at 2428 Easton Turnpike in Fairfield conducted a fire drill along with the Fairfield Fire Department. Deputy Chief Kyran Dunn told me that the federal government mandated that health care faculties need to improve their emergency management activities. Many facilities have been calling the fire department to find out how they can improve their planning. Dunn said the drills not only benefit the facilities but also the fire department’s operations. The fire department had to contingents, one for the facility and one for them. Dunn said the drills are manpower intensive whereas they physically stretch hose lines, find the locations and all the other “nuts and bolts” they have to deal with. He said there were lessons learned and look to improve operations. Other healthcare facilities to observe which can help with community-wide knowledge.

The firefighters made real emergencies look easy but it is because of drills like this that keep them sharp. They also train for water emergencies, hazardous materials incidents as well as medical responses and working with American Medical Response (AMR).

March 14, 2017 – On an early Tuesday morning at 1:16 AM the Fairfield Fire Department responded to a nine vehicle accident on Interstate 95 in the area of Exit 19 Northbound involving three tractor trailers. Engine 4, under the command of LT James Shiller and Rescue 1 arrived on scene to find a vehicle with its driver trapped under the box trailer.

Assistant Chief Erik Kalapir upon arrival at the scene, assumed Incident Command and special called Engines 1, 2 and Ladder 2 for additional equipment and manpower providing a total of seventeen firefighters for this labor intensive extrication operation. The operation required the closure of northbound traffic for over an hour, so emergency crew could safely operate. Manpower under the direction of Lieutenants Eric McKeon and Rodger Caisse, utilized pneumatic struts and air bags for a lifting operation of the box trailer, while at the same time compressing the suspension of the pinned vehicle. A grip-hoist was utilized to remove the car from under the box trailer in a controlled operation. Only then could the driver be extricated utilizing hydraulic cutting and spreading tools.

American Medical Response provided medical treatment and transported the patient to Bridgeport Hospital with serious injuries. A second driver from a different tractor trailer was also transported to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. Connecticut State Police and Department of Transportation crews remained on scene for accident investigation and restoration purposes.

Rollover crash into a brook in Fairifled

Video Report–Eyewitness account and hero rescue! I also show you how they got the car out of the brook at the end of the video!

#FAIRFIELD, CT– On Wednesday afternoon at 3:52pm the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a local resident of a car rolled over and into the water with occupants still inside at the intersection of Osborne Hill Road and Glen Arden Drive. Fairfield Fire Department Engine 2, Ladders 1 and 2, and Car 3 responded and arrived on scene at 3:54pm to report a vehicle overturned in the brook with occupants inside the car. A nearby neighbor extricated the driver.

After securing the scene and assessing both patients Fire Department personnel extricated the driver and assisted American Medical Response in the transfer of both to ambulances for transport to the hospital. United Illuminating and Aquarion were also called to the scene for repairs to the utility pole and fire hydrant which were damaged in the accident. Engine 2 remained on scene until the vehicle was removed from the stream and was the last Fire Department unit to clear at 4:48pm.

Fairfield Police Contract Going Before RTM

Editorial- The RTM will decide the Fairfield Police Department’s Police Contract on March 18th. The police union has been operating without a contract for over two years. That includes two hurricanes and one blizzard of service without complaint. Two weeks ago 5 officers were sent into a wooded area where a man with a gun a during a standoff. The officers did not hesitate to move in when ordered even after a shot already rang out. Why is Fairfield making them wait for a decent contract?

Fairfield has a history of being anti-union, dragging on negotiations with the firefighters union and even the nurses union.

If you live in the town of Fairfield, please contact your RTM officials listed below and tell them you support a decent contract for the police. Tell them you are tired of the town’s anti union position:

District 1:

David M. Becker: 203-424-0024 (phone), david@davidbecker.com (e-mail)

Michael Herley: 203-308-1409 (phone), michael.herley@gmail.com (email)

Carolyn Richmond: 203-259-4803 (phone), clrichmond@optimum.net (e-mail)

Gaylord Meyer: 203-930-2229 (phone), gaylordmeyer@gmail.com (e-mail)

Eric G. Sundman: 203-255-0101 (phone), ericsundman@optonline.net (e-mail)

District 2:

Peter Ambrose: 203-259-0009 (phone), Peterambrose@snet.net (e-mail)

Amy Jennings: 203-259-2335 (phone)

Jeffrey R. Steele: 203-292-3530 (phone), steelejb@optonline.net (e-mail)

John R. Mitola: 203-254-7288 (phone), jrmitola@aol.com (e-mail)

Keith Storm Varian: 203-292-6860 (phone), kvarian@murthalaw.com (e-mail)

District 3:

Edward J. Bateson III: 203-530-3915 (phone), bateson@optonline.net (e-mail)

Thomas P. Conley: 203-255-9659 (phone)

Francis “Hank” Ference: 203-259-6966 (phone), hank110@optonline.net (e-mail)

Mary I. McCullough: 203-255-0877 (phone), mccullough1450@gmail.com (e-mail)

G. David Mackenzie: 203-255-3348 (phone), gdavid_mackenzie@ml.com (e-mail)

District 4:

Joseph M. DeMartino: 203-256-0036 (phone), joseph.demartino@gmail.com (e-mail)

Arthur G. Hug: 203-372-3379 (phone)

Joseph J. Palmer: 203-254-2522 (phone), joe.palmer@mac.com (e-mail)

Heather Dean: 203-255-5238 (phone), heatherdean2012@gmail.com (e-mail)

Amy Mezoff: 203-522-4090 (phone), amezoffrtm@gmail.com (e-mail)

District 5:

Matthew Ambrose: 203-259-0009 (phone), ambrosem@raveis.com (e-mail)

Joshua Garskof: 203-520-5053 (phone), jgrtm5@gmail.com (e-mail)

Christopher M. McAleese: 203-368-2627 (phone), mcaleesechris@ymail.com (e-mail)

Ruth A. Smey: 203-336-3216 (phone), smey@sbcglobal.net (e-mail)

Ann Stamler: 203-767-3614 (phone), annstamler.dem@gmail.com

District 6:

Christopher J. Brogan: 203-615-1896 (phone), cbrogan5@optonline.net (e-mail)

Leonora P. Campbell: 203-335-2423 (phone), leonorartm6@gmail.com (e-mail)

Julie K. Gottlieb: 203-374-1884 (phone), juliertm6@gmail.com

Sheila H. Marmion: 203-373-1855 (phone), marmionsh@aol.com (e-mail)

Jay G. Wolk: 203-203-0591 (phone), jgwolkrtm6@gmail.com (e-mail)

District 7:

Jennifer Hochberg: 203-372-9838 (phone), jahochberg7@gmail.com (email)

Kevin L. Hoffkins: 203-371-5081 (phone), khoffkins@optonline.net (e-mail)

Eric S. Newman: 203-219-9877 (phone), ericnewmancpa@yahoo.com (e-mail)

Marc Patten: 203-820-4447 (phone), marcpatten@att.net (e-mail)

Harold G. Schwartz: 203-371-7217 (phone), hal7rtm@yahoo.com (e-mail)

District 8:

Kathryn L. Braun: 203-256-0334 (phone), kathrynbraund8@yahoo.com (email)

Dana Kery: 203-256-0762 (phone), danakery@gmail.com (email)

Allen Marks: 203-255-9422 (phone), allenmarksrtm@gmail.com (email)

Thomas E. McCarthy: 203-259-4620 (phone), temccarth@yahoo.com (e-mail)

Jeffrey Stopa: 203-521-0825 (phone), jeffstopa2@gmail.com (e-mail)

District 9:

Bill Domeika: 203-650-0986 (phone), williamdomeika@gmail.com (e-mail)

Joseph L.A. Felner Jr.: 203-292-5533 (phone)

Ellen Jacob: 203-259-3747 (phone), dancingusa@optonline.net (e-mail)

Carol Pontrelli: 203-259-4761 (phone), carol.ponti@aol.com (e-mail)

Nicholas D. Mirabile: 203-256-0858 (phone), nickmirabile@yahoo.com (e-mail)

District 10:

Leigh Hannum: Leighhannum@yahoo.com (e-mail)

Kenneth R. Lee: 203-615-3898 (phone), kenlee4rtm@gmail.com (e-mail)

Bruce Ryan: 203-256-8336 (phone), bryan@sourcegrp.com (e-mail)

Carol J. Way: 203-256-8613 (phone), cjffld@gmail.com (e-mail)

FAIRFIELD FIRE COMMISSION PROMOTES TWO NEW LIEUTENANTS

FAIRFIELD, CT, February 28, 2013: The Fairfield Fire Commission announced the promotions of Lieutenants Scott Trembley of Ansonia and Brian McHugh of Fairfield effective Friday, March 1^st at a special meeting last Monday night in the John Sullivan Independence Hall. The promotions were made from a list promulgated by the Fire Commission earlier in the month as the result of written and oral examinations which took place in January at which two Assistant Chiefs and five Lieutenants were promoted. Many family members were in attendance for Monday’s meeting at which both new officers were asked to stand for applause when their name was announced; a more formal ceremony will be held in early March at a Fire Headquarters on Reef Road for family, friends and department members to celebrate their promotion. “There’s a big turnover in our department, and I’m looking forward to working with these new officers to give our citizens of Fairfield the excellent public service they deserve,” said Chief Richard Felner. “As I’ve said many times in the past, this is another example of our family taking care of your family.”

Scott Trembley is a sixteen year veteran with the Fairfield Fire Department and the recipient of two Joseph J. Stopa Life Saving Medals for his participation in the rescue of a hunter in cardiac arrest on Farmstead Hill Road several years back and earlier in his career for performing rapid CPR and defibrillization on a patient in cardiac arrest whose life was saved by his actions. Brian McHugh is a thirteen year veteran of the Fire Department and the recipient of two Joseph J. Stopa Life Saving Medals for his actions in the Farmstead Hill Road rescue and his efforts at a cardiac arrest patient whose life was saved on Melville Drive, the Joseph S. Elias Meritorious Service Award for his actions at a tanker truck fire on I-95, two Unit Citations for motor vehicle accident extrications on the Merritt Parkway and on North Benson Road by Fairfield University, and is a member of the Department Honor Guard and Hazardous Materials Technician Response Team. “Family is very important to me, and to stand before the Fire Commission to receive this promotion with my wife, father, mother, sister, mother-in-law and son was a great honor,” said McHugh. “The opportunity to serve the community where I was raised and am raising my children is something I value more than I can say.”

Editorial–Is Fairfield Anti-Union?

Editorial–As Fairfield’s Random Act of Kindness program declared by First Selectman Tetreau winds down, I hope our act of kindness is to give the Fairfield Police a half way decent contract. The police in Fairfield have served in TWO hurricanes a blizzard, and were one of the first on scene in Newtown to give support without a contract.
I have to ask why is Fairfield anti union? They strung the firefighters out on their contract for a long time, heck even the nurses union. Fairfield has a proven track record of being anti-union, from the First Selectman Tetreau to a lot of members on the RTM. Forget a pay raise, did you know that the Fairfield Police haven’t had a cost of living increase since 2009? Give them a half way decent health care plan, we count on their well being to protect us. Contact First Selectman Tetreau at FirstSelectmanFFld@town.fairfield.ct.us or call him at 203-256-3030. You can find your RTM members here

The press jumped all over Republican Governor in Michigan for being anti-union. Is this another media double standard because Fairfield is Democratic?

Fire At Congregation Beth El Fairfield

On February 14, 2013 at 1:48 PM the Fairfield Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire in a room at Congregation Beth El on Fairfield Woods Road. In addition to the initial 911 caller, a police officer on patrol in the area also reported seeing heavy smoke coming from the roof of the building. Initial arriving fire personnel found a natural gas fed HVAC unit on fire on the roof of the building which created a moderate smoke condition inside the building. All students were evacuated from the school and were kept in a safe location along with teachers in accordance with the schools emergency plan prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. Due to the time of day, students were dismissed directly to their parents care in front of the building without incident. Fire personnel shut off the gas to the building and controlled the fire which was contained to the roof top unit. Additional firefighters checked the inside of the building for fire extension and any possible victims remaining inside the building. Fire personnel also ensured that all religious artifacts and precious documents were protected during the fire.

Assistant Chief Scott Bisson stated, “The school did an excellent job in exercising their fire evacuation plan which allowed them to account for each child outside of the school and kept the kids safely away from the school so firefighters could do their work.”

The building was not significantly damage and was able to be occupied immediately after the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fairfield Fire Marshall’s office but appears to be accidental in nature related to weather conditions. The flames were coming from a broken gas pipe connected to the HVAC unit on the roof. Southern Connecticut Gas was called to the scene to assist with securing the equipment. Fairfield Woods Road was shut down for approx. 20 minutes during the fire although parents were allowed to the front of the building to pick up children from school staff. Twenty people were evacuated for approximately 1 hour and there were no reported injuries. Four engines, two ladders, the Shift Commander and Safety Officer responded to this incident. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 3:02 PM