Haddam Volunteer Fire Company

HVFC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS GIVEN OUT

This year the awards were presented at the annual banquet held Saturday, January 28th. Years of service awards are presented in increments of every 5 years that someone has been a member. In order to maintain active membership, each volunteer must complete a number of mandatory training sessions, attend meetings, participate in committee work, and make a minimum number of calls. It is clearly quite an accomplishment when a member has maintained active membership for the number of years listed below.

This year, the following members were recognized for their years of service:

Firefighter Rick Williams – 5 years
Firefighter Malcolm Meyer – 35 years

Top responders are recognized for a high volume of emergency calls responded to. Members are called upon at all hours of the day and night, 365 days a year.

The following members are the top 5 responders for 2011:

Lieutenant Zachary Tiezzi – 344 emergency calls
Lieutenant Dan Sullivan – 324 emergency calls
Firefighter James Kuchyt – 222 emergency calls
1st Assistant Chief Sam Baber – 163 emergency calls
Fire Police Chief Fred Maynard – 163 emergency calls

The Firefighter of the Year award is given to a member who, selected by his/her peers, represents a tremendous contribution to the Fire Company during the year. The 2011 Firefighter of the Year award was presented to Firefighter Ron Annino.

Ron became a member in July of 1970. He has remained active for more than 41 years. He has held the rank of Captain and Assistant Chief, and has participated on numerous committees and projects. Ron was recognized for responding to a pediatric emergency this past summer where his professionalism and composure helped the family and patient greatly. The officers and members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company salute Ron for his years of service, and his ongoing contribution to save lives and property in the own of Haddam.

DECEMBER 2011 REPORT

Training for the month included mandatory blood born pathogens annual refreshing, Automatic Emergency Defibrillator (AED) refreshing, and ice rescue. As a “defib” service, the Fire Company must refresh annually on the use of the AEDs. Classroom presentations as well as several life-like scenarios were used to test and improve the skill level of Emergency Medical Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians.

During the Ice Rescue Training, safety procedures were reviewed. The Fire Company is equipped with cold water suits, life lines, and a special sled type device to be used when performing rescues on ice. After some classroom discussions, the Fire Company utilized the skating pond at the Haddam Meadows State Park to practice using the suits, lines and sled. Safely performing an ice rescue is extremely complicated. All personnel know exactly what has to happen, and what type of personal protective equipment is required. Line tenders must be wearing personal floatation devices. Rescuers must be tethered and clipped in using a dual carabineer system. Good intentioned by-standers should stay on shore and await rescuers to aid in the location of victims and not cause additional persons requiring assistance.

The Firefighter I class being hosted by the Fire Company completed its state required live burn at the CT State Fire Academy. The 8 Haddam students, along with the rest of the class, practiced search and rescue as well as hose line evolutions inside a structure designed to produce heat and flame using high volume propane. Outside a car fire prop was used to simulate the hazards of fighting gasoline fueled vehicle fires. After course job performance requirements (JPRs) and a course final written exam, the class moved on to a month’s worth of Hazardous Materials Operations Certification training.

With the high cost of heating, many have begun to use alternative heating sources. When not properly installed, maintained and utilized, serious conditions can develop.

Kerosene heaters, when not vented directly outside, produce high levels of carbon monoxide. Never use any fuel not designed for use in the heater by the manufacturer. Never fill it when it is in use or hot. Be sure the device is in good working order and legal to use as a heating device within a residence.

Woodstoves should be installed by professionals and inspected. Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually. Only seasoned hardwood should be burned to reduce the chances of creosote buildup inside the stove pipe and/or chimney. Should there be any evidence of a chimney fire, dial 911 and leave the building. Firefighters with special training and tools can ensure that the fire has not extended outside the chimney and into hidden spaces within the structure.

February brings some of the best winter recreational conditions to our area. Be sure that the ice is thick enough before you venture out onto that lake. Stay in control when sliding down that hill on a sled, toboggan, skis or snowboard. Take care not to over-do it when shoveling that white fluffy snow – frequent breaks and proper hydration are keys. Be sure to dial 911 immediately should you or a family member feel any chest pains or discomfort while strenuously removing snow or performing other activities. Enjoy the winter as soon it will be Spring!

SOME THOUGHTS ON CANDLE SAFETY

The top three days for home candle fires were Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Christmas Eve.

U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System shows that in 2005-2009:
• On average, 35 home candle fires were reported per day.
• More than half (55%) of all candle fires started when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses or bedding, curtains, or decorations, was too close to the candle.
• In one-fifth (19%) of the fires, the candles were unattended or abandoned.
• More than one-third of home candle fires begin in the bedroom, although the candle industry found that only 13% of candle users burn candles in the bedroom most often.
• December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 11% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.

NOVEMBER UPDATE

November started off with an early snow storm, breaking numerous trees and taking power out to a large part of town. Haddam Firefighters responded to multiple incidents, assisted with moving Emergency Management shelter equipment, and helped where ever possible during the storm and the cleanup.

Training during November included a trip to a new Class A burn facility in New Haven, and practicing ladders/chimney fires and self contained breathing apparatus. On Sunday, November 13th, approximately 18 members spent the day at a newly dedicated training facility in New Haven. The building, built with cement and lined with temperature resistant tiles, can have fires built in various rooms. Firefighters can practice many skills needed when attempting search and rescue inside a home, as well as fire extinguishment. With live actual fires of pallets and hay, conditions very similar to that of an actual structure fire can be achieved. The heat, smoke and poor visibility are very similar. Firefighters searched on multiple levels for potential victims of the fires, as other teams tracked down the origin of the fire and put them out.

Later that month, Firefighters put ladders up at the Veteran’s Museum in Higganum Center and practiced working on top of that 2 ½ story structure. While that was going on, another team worked to extinguish a simulated chimney fire in the other part of the building at the same time yet another team wearing self contained breathing apparatus crawled into the attic to simulate checking for extension.

Steve Bates completed the training and certification process as an Emergency Medical Technician. Steve brings the total number of certified Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs and EMTs) in the Fire Company to 24. Haddam Fire responds to all serious emergency medical 911 requests as the town’s designated First Responder organization.

The Fall Middlesex County Fire School Firefighter I class that Haddam Fire is hosting is nearing completion of the firefighting phase. On Sunday, December 4th, the class traveled to the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks for a live burn. There, the Probationary Firefighters practiced search and rescue, hose line advancement and car fire extinguishment with training props consisting of very hot propane fires. Following the practical exercises, the students had a brief tour of the rest of the Academy and visited the Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial where Haddam Volunteer Fire Co.’s John Bertolini’s name is inscribed.

Haddam Residents are reminded to be extra careful in the winter months with regards to fire prevention. Alternate heating sources must be watched and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Wood stoves should be installed by professionals, and chimneys cleaned as needed. Do not delay calling the Fire Company if you suspect any complication with a chimney. Chimney fires in an older or improperly installed chimney may travel into the surrounding woodwork and start a complete structure fire. Chimneys that are plugged or not drafting properly may force deadly carbon monoxide into the living areas of the house. Please make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and are working properly. Test them frequently.

2011 CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

HISTORIC OCTOBER STORM RELATED ARTICLES

It's been a busy and historic fall this October for us. Here are links to a couple of informative articles from our Public Information Liaison and Assistant Chief Bob Norton Jr. Please take a few minutes and read them.