Another phase in the reorganization of the Hamden Fire Department following John Tramontano's appointment as fire chief began thirty years ago this past week with the promotions of seven veteran firefighters to the rank of lieutenant and some changes in apparatus assignments.
Promoted were Dennis Baker, John Calamo, Howard Hurlburt, Jr., Robert Kelo, Robert Mordecai, David Strawhince and Robert Viglione. Calamo is not pictured in the photo above, possibly because he was on-duty and responding on a call when the photo was taken in the Town Hall auditorium.
Three of the new officers replaced three lieutenants who had been promoted to captain during the previous two months. The other four filled new slots for one additional lieutenant on each platoon. It was the first time since 1963 that a new company officer had been added to each shift. Station 9 in West Woods would now have a company officer, leaving only Station 5 in Mt. Carmel station without an officer.
Also included in this phase of the reorganization was the transfer of Truck 1 from Station 5 to Station 9, where it would respond on all box assignments in the north end. On still alarms, the officer had the option of either having the truck respond with Engine 9 or having both truck personnel respond on Engine 9, leaving the truck out of service for the duration of the incident. This arrangement was phased out a year later when Truck 1 was taken out of service altogether and the number of Station 9 personnel reduced to the one officer and two firefighters.
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To say that the department was in "a state of flux" during this period would have been an understatement. It seemed that a new personnel roster was being issued just about every month because of retirements and promotions, as well as the need to fill some new positions.
Before the end of 1984, the new positions of Mechanic and Asst. Fire Marshal were created, to which Lt. Hurlburt and Lt. Robert Westervelt were respectively appointed. Firefighters Don LaBanca and Charlie Esposito were promoted to fill Hurlburt's and Westervelt's lieutenant vacancies on the line. Capt. Luke Tobin retired after 35 years of service and his vacancy on Platoon 1 was filled by Lt. Jim Leddy.
By the beginning of 1985 two new pumpers would go into service at Stations 2 and 4. Shortly thereafter, the 1973 Maxim Telesqurt and 1973 Maxim foam truck would be rebuilt by Pierce in Appleton, Wisconsin and returned to service as Engines 3 and 9.
One other sign of the new fire administration can be seen in the photo. Both chiefs were now wearing the traditional firefighter's round dress hat or "bell cap." By the end of 1984, the old eight-point dress and work hats were replaced by the bell caps. New baseball-type work hats were ordered for all line personnel, although officers had the option of wearing their dress caps with their work uniforms. The New Haven Fire Department followed suit in recent years under the leadership of recently-retired Chief Michael Grant.
Posted 11/7/14
