Structure Fire + Live Burn Drill + 16 Calls = Busy Day

Yet another busy Saturday for CHFD volunteers. The day started at 04:00 with an automatic alarm that was quickly upgrated to a working fire. Units went to work locating and extinguishing multiple set fires in an office complex.

Following the fire, members assembled at the drill house for a few hours of live burn scenarios. From then on, a steady stream of calls followed with volunteers handling 16 calls today. We did manage to cook a decent dinner in between runs but no sooner did we drop our forks when that good old station 28 alarm sent us back out to do what we do. Just before midnight, with many members going on their 20th continuous hour at the firehouse we took in the last run for today (crash on West Rd). Good job everyone, now go home and get some rest!

Train As You Expect To Perform

CHFD members have been keeping busy at our burn house this week. Sunday, we put 49 Willimantic FF1 students through their live fire evolutions. Yea, that was a long day! Today, we welcomed the Mashantucket Tribal Fire Department for the first of two evening burns they have planned with us this week. Saturday and Sunday we are at it again. This has been brutal on our Instructors/firefighters however it always refuels our batteries when we hear back from our brother firefighters how much they learned and enjoyed their time spent at the good old Lebanon Ave burn house.

2nd Alarm Fire Highlights Another Busy Day

CHFD worked a 2nd alarm fire today. Units arrived to find heavy fire venting from a 2 story residential. An aggressive attack was made by ET-1, ET-3 with Ladder-1 opening up. Another fine job guys! Mutual aid companies (Salem, Hebron) also provided manpower with Bozrah covering station 28 (and taking in a few calls during the standby) . Credit FF Knowles for the pictures.

The 2nd shift crews were also kept busy later in the day running alarms and a furnace fire in one of our target hazard multi-occupancy buildings on Main St.

Rescue 1 crew ventilates 1st floor pub

Engine and Rescue taking up and heading back to 28s for dinner....finally...of course dinner was interupted by yet another call....

Kitchen Fire

While the Instructors were busy at the burn house, station 28 took in a reported kitchen fire with an injured victim. Units arrived within minutes on a 2-story multi-family complex with smoke in the building. ET-1 tapped the hydrant and quickly advanced a line into position. Lt. Forcucci and the engine crew located the fire and downscaled the incident to a 1:1 (Engine & Truck) with EMS for food on the stove w/ minor extension.

Burn House Back in Business!

After a few months off, the CHFD burn house was placed back in service last evening. Instructors from around the area tested the new burn room and completed preparations for the numerous live burns scheduled this month. Despite the long hours and hard work, it has been rewarding to have the opportunity to train, burn and interact w/ 20 departments at our facility (Glastonbury, Hebron, Marlborough, Salem, gardner Lake, East Hampton, Taftville, S. Windham, Windham Center, N. Windham, Lebanon, Columbia, Willimantic Fire School, Mashantucket Tribal, Scotland, Canterbury and Instructors form the cities of Hartford, New London, East Hartford. Oh yea, there was also a kid from Station 33 Kentland that stopped by). We are also proud to say that despite aggressive live fire evolutions, safety has prevailed and there have been no injuries reported to date.

LT. Giudice overhauling the new #1 floor burn room following a test burn

Congrats to Dave & Jacs!

Best wishes you two!
Station 28 regulars took the evening off to celebrate the marriage of two of our own,Dave and Jacquelyn. Fun times were had by all and we wish the both of you all the best!

The newlyweds with their CHFD family

Crews in town last night managed their share of calls too including a couple of wrecks, one serious w/ lifestar.

Automatic Aid To Lebanon For the Structure Fire

CHFD was dispatched just before midnight for the reported structure fire in Lebanon. The in-house station crew responded w/ ET 1-28 and arrived first due. Small fire contained to a malfunctioning electrical appliance on wall. Lebanon Car 106 (Lyon) had command with Car 628 (McManus)acting as the operational boss. This was the same address that we took in the working fire last month. Colchester EMS remained in town and took in a medical run at "the court" during this incident.

In other news, this was the 41st run this month (only six days). If this pace keeps up, we will be at well over 200 runs for the month. Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who have been keeping up with this pace and providing the best service to those we serve.

Another Rescue Notch For the Gator's Belt

Colchester FD was special called to the town of Franklin (yes, all the way to Franklin) yesterday to assist with the rescue of an elderly patient lost in the woods. Upon arrival, Franklin command put Squad-1's crew to work assigning them the task of extricating the patient. Members utilized CHFD's transport equipped gator style ATV to gain access and quickly transported the patient to the awaiting ambulance.

FDNY Headquarters

I reported to FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn today for my interview and background check. All went well!
If anyone out there is interested in getting on the job and has questions about the process, feel free to drop me an email. Applications for the January exam are being accepted until October 13th. This exam is only given once every four years and the process for those living outside of the city will take 3-4yrs before appointment.