Change in Management

With Mike Giatonio taking a new job outside the District that will require him to be on-call during the evening, he regrettably resigned his post as lieutenant.  Mike will continue to volunteer for the Department and will assist with fire marshal activities on an on-call basis.  The open lieutenant's position was filled at the March monthly meeting by a vote of the members by Jason Lubee.  Congratulations and best of luck to Jason in his new role!

Sense of Community - Moody PTA and WFD Working Together

Synergy:  syn-er-gy; noun: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts).

As a volunteer organization, the Westfield Fire Department faces many challenges.  Recruiting, retention, morale, member participation, training, "work/life balance", fund raising, etc.  These challenges are faced by all volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps.  In any given month, you're sure to find an article in Firehouse Magazine or a similar publication where the issues and potential solutions are discussed.  Meanwhile, just down the street at Van Buren Moody Elementary School our friends and neighbors on the Moody PTA are experiencing similar challenges.  So it was a not-so surprising sequence of events that really brought both organizations a little closer together over the past 5 months.  Back in October, the PTA was running their annual Halloween party at the school.  In order to address the parking concerns (including fire lane violations) experienced in the previous year's event, the PTA worked with the WFD FMO to arrange for a fire watch and for a few firefighters to help coordinate parking.  Voila!  The results were immediate and significant.  Not only were there NO parking problems to speak of, but feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive thanks, in part, to the coordinated parking provided by the WFD.  With that initial success under our collective belts, the WFD approached the PTA in January to talk about ways the PTA could help in a recruiting effort.  At the same time, we talked about ways that both organizations could help each other on a more regular basis.  For anyone reading this who happens to live in the Westfield District of the City of Middletown, what you're benefiting from (as you should) is a synergistic relationship between two volunteer organizations that each provide significant benefit to you and your families with VERY little cost to you.  Some upcoming planned events coming jointly from the WFD and Moody PTA include a "Touch a Truck" fund raiser for the PTA (April 2010 timeframe) using WFD fire apparatus and a WFD recruiting mailer to be sent home with each Moody student along with other PTA-related material.

Cara Williamson, President of the Moody PTA will be featured on the monthly Middletown Public Schools "Spotlight on Education" that will air on Comcast Channel 15 on February 24th at 8:00 p.m.  Among other things, Cara will speak about the synergistic relationship that both the Moody PTA and WFD feel will provide greater benefits to both organizations than similar efforts would yield with each organization operating on their own.  I strongly encourage everyone to tune in!  Click here for more information.

Westfield Receives FEMA/DHS AFG Grant

Westfield Fire was notified today that it has been granted $74,518 in FEMA/DHS Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program funds to assist in the purchase of mobile and portable radio equipment.  The Westfield Fire District will be contributing 10% of the total cost of the project.  According to FEMA, "The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped  firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards."  In this case, grant funds will allow Westfield Fire to address a number of problems related to aging non-FCC compliant equipment and will also allow the Department to position itself for significantly improved interoperability with mutual aid departments as well as other local, state and federal agencies.  Receipt of grant funds is a huge win for the Department and the District, which has had to manage a tight budget in light of the closing of the Aetna facility on Middle Street.

Special thanks to Lieutenant Nick DeJohn, who was primarily responsible for drafting the grant, determining the scope of the project and establishing specifically what equipment the Department sought to purchase with the grant funds.  Additional thanks to the Westfield Fire District Board of Commissioners for their continued support of the Department as it relates to special projects of this kind. 

Click here to read the related article in the Hartford Courant.

Kleen Energy Plant to Purge Cylinders

Starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Saturday February 13, 2010, a team from Clean Harbors will be burning off acetylene and other gases stored in cylinders at the damaged Kleen Energy plant.  The Cylinders were damaged during the fatal explosion that occurred last Sunday morning, and as such, they cannot be transported over the road until they are emptied.  Westfield Fire will be assisting South Fire District in providing an engine for coverage as a safety precaution.  Click here to read the related article in the Hartford Courant.

Westfield Fire Response to Kleen Energy Explosion

Westfield Fire responded with Engines 2 and 3, Tanker 4, Rescue 3 and Ladder 6 to the Kleen Energy plant on River Road at approximately 1:00 this afternoon for a significant explosion and resulting casualties.  Westfield units remained on-scene until approximately 7:00 p.m..  Crews from South District and Middletown Fire will remain on-scene through the night. 

Through the Roof at Madison at Chestnut Hill

At approximately 1:20 a.m. on Thursday February 4, 2010, Westfield fire was toned out to a structure fire at Buildings 6 & 8 of the Madison at Chestnut Hill apartment complex on Town Colony Drive.  On arrival, Chief John Lockwood confirmed a working structure fire and promptly requested a second alarm response.  As Westfield and Middletown units arrived on scene, fire was shooting through the roof of Building 6.   Westfield 2 initiated fire attack with the deck gun, a 1-3/4" line and a 2-1/2" line while Westfield 6 set up for master stream operations.  Middletown Engine 3 tied 5-inch LDH in from a yard hydrant to Westfield 6.  The second alarm also included units from South District, Cromwell , Middlefield,  East Berlin, and Portland Fire Departments to the scene along with an engine from Rocky Hill and a ladder from Cromwell to Westfield Fire headquarters for station coverage.  Deputy Chief Stephen Hughes was assigned to Staging and Captain Dan Barone was assigned to Operations.  The blaze was extinguished in approximately 20-minutes.  Westfield 5, 4, and 3 were also on scene.  Westfield 7 responded with EMTs Lisa DeJohn and Kelly Brunell for the rehab assignment.  The Salvation Army provided refreshments for on-scene personnel and the American Red Cross arrived to assist impacted residents with alternate living arrangements.  Great job by all Westfield members and mutual aid companies in keeping the fire contained to the initial fire building (Building 6)!

Special thanks to all responding mutual departments for all your assistance.  Coordination between all departments was excellent!  Although fire damage was extensive and temperatures were below freezing for the entire incident, no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Westfield Fire Marshal's Office and the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal's Office.  Pictures will be posted in the next day or so.  Links to news coverage are below:

http://www.wfsb.com/news/22461979/detail.html
http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/middlesex_cty/fire-strikes-middletown-condo-complex
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Apartment-Fire-Displaces-40--83530387.html
http://www.wtic.com/pages/6285503.php
http://www.courant.com/community/middletown/hc-web-middletown-fire-0205feb04,0,4326777.story
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/02/04/news/doc4b6b0cb9a5f43544175745.txt

Also, click on the link below to see some good photos by Sean Freiman's site:

http://hartfordonfire.smugmug.com/CONNECTICUT-Other-Incidents/2010-Incidents/MIDDLETOWN-CT-2nd-Alarm-617/11140182_ZCh3H#780704038_gJtnv

Roundabout Hose Lay

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Check this one out.  The Carmel (IN) Fire Department started playing around with the Cleveland high-rise hose lay and came up with a new/improved way to pack the primary 1-3/4 attack line.  It appears to be a significant improvement over the typical minuteman lay because it 1) it eliminates the need to flake the hose out at your point of entry, 2) it deploys easily, quickly and without getting tangled up, and 3) it is repacked on the ground.   The Carmel FD uses 200' of 1-3/4 and packs a flat lay on one side and the "roundabout" on the other side of the hose bed and then connects the female end of the "roundabout" to the male end of the flat lay.  We use 250' or 300' depending on the truck, so if we were to consider using this lay, we'd have to flat lay 150' - 200' across both sides of the hose bed, filling one side to the top and then filling the other side half up with a flat lay and the second half with the "roundabout" lay.  Maybe somethng to try out once the weather warms up a bit...click here to see and read how they actually lay out the hose.

We Want You!

The Moody School PTA will be graciously hosting Assistant Chief Darrell Ponzio this coming Monday night, January 11th, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Moody School library (300 Country Club Road) to have a conversation with Westfield residents about volunteer opportunities with the Westfield Fire Department.

Like the PTA, the Westfield Fire Department is powered by volunteer residents within the District.  We're looking for able-bodied men and women who would like to make a significant difference in their community by helping our neighbors.  The comraderie and excitement come with the package.   If you've ever thought about becomming a volunteer firefighter or EMT but felt that you couldn't commit to a schedule or had some other lingering concern, please come out and join the discussion.  Even if you find that it's not really for you, there may be another family member or neighbor who you might recommend.  While you're there, you can also see our PTA in action.  Between the future playscape, the JCJ Feasibility Study and parking lot safety, the discussion should be lively!

Things of Note

This past Tuesday was the January meeting night, and included the annual officers elections.  Some notables:

1. Bill Balch, who has been a member since birth (actually, since 1994) and has served for the past 8 or 9 years as a lieutenant, was forced to step (or should I say limp) aside.  Bill, a sincere "thank you" from all of us for all your hard work on-scene, behind the scenes, in the kitchen, and just about everywhere else.

2. Michael Mosebach, who has been a member for 8 years has stepped up to take the 6th lieutenant's spot.  Mike - welcome to the ranks of officer, and best of luck to you as you take on the additional leadership responsibilties.  You'll do a great job!

3. Dave Ribnicky stepped aside as secretary, relinquishing the role to Lisa DeJohn.  Dave, thanks for your efforts and best of luck to Lisa!

and finally,

4. Tom Flynn turned 90.  Tom has been a member of Westfield Fire since 1938 and served in WWII.  When asked to say something the other night, Tom replies..."Dwight D. Eisenhower once said that old veterans never die, they just fade away.  Well, I say that old firefighers never die, they just keep getting in the way!"  Tom - you're the best!  Congrats on 90 years!

Gone!

And just like that, we can salute the passing of 2009.  The first decade (or 1/10th, if you like) of the 21st century are gone.  Amazing!  Let's hope 2010 brings back a more stable economic climate and maybe one that even sees job growth.  Let's also hope it delivers on a more stable world political climate - one where people in Iraq and Afganistan, as well as the rest of the Middle East, turn down the "anger" dial a little.  Although I probably could, I won't go on and on.  But I did scan FireRescue1.com's 2009 Firefighter Pictures Year in Review - it's pretty good.  Take a look!

Happy New Year Everyone!  In the words of 10-5-6, "be alert, stay safe!"