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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
Next regular update is Friday, October 12th.
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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37th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend: October 6 and 7, 2018
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, October 7, 2018 in recognition of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day, an annual observance honoring the sacrifices of fallen firefighters throughout the country. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags – including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise – should also be lowered during this same duration of time.
Posted 10/5/18
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| Chief David A. Berardesca |
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Chief's Final Week Next Week
It was revealed in a press release from Mayor Leng's office earlier this week that Chief David Berardesca, who has led the Hamden Fire Department for over twelve years, will officially end his career as Hamden's eighth fire chief when he retires next Friday, October 12th.
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association congratulate Chief Berardesca on a very successful run as Hamden's fire chief and wish him a long, happy, and healthy retirement. We also look forward to welcoming the chief as our newest member.
Posted 10/5/2018
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Lightning Strikes Apartment House
22 Warner Street
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
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On Tuesday night October 2nd, at 23:10, the Hamden Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the apartment complex at 22 Warner Street. A heavy band of thunderstorms was moving through the area, and Central Communications had received multiple 911 calls reporting a lightning strike from the residents in the apartment complex.
The first engine company arrived at 23:15, confirming structural roof members were smoldering and that asphalt shingles were displaced and charred. Attic spaces and common walls were checked for extension and smoldering areas extinguished.
Apartments 19 and 20 sustained light damage from water and inspection holes. Battalion Chief Rich Otlowski called the fire under control at 23:39.
Hamden's Building Inspector was called to the scene to examine electrical services and structural integrity. The families occupying the affected units will be displaced for a short time during repairs. The Connecticut Chapter of the Red Cross is assisting with temporary relocation. In all five adults and three children have been moved to local emergency housing. No injuries were reported at this incident.
Lightning strikes elsewhere were also thought to be responsible for power outages in other areas of town during this storm. As a precaution during operations, the United Illuminating Co. cut power to the Warner Street complex, eventually restoring power to the unaffected apartments.
Hamden Fire Inspector Nelson Hwang is investigating this event.
Posted 10/5/2018
The website thanks the Fire Chief's Office and Dep. Chief Gary Merwede for providing this article and photo.
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| New Haven Register, Sunday, October 6, 1963 (Brainard/Merwede) |
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| Lieut. Douglas A. Yocher |
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Remembering Doug
The HFRA was saddened to learn of the passing last Sunday of retired Hamden Fire Department Lieut. Doug Yocher, a 31-year department veteran. Doug was also a member of the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department for all his adult life, and had served as Chief of that department for three years in the 1980s. Those of us who worked with Doug knew him to be an excellent firefighter and fire officer. He will be missed. Here are a few memories of Doug from the HFRA archives.
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| July 1969 |
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With the coming of the 42-hour work week in 1970, Doug was one of a couple of dozen new firefighters hired over two years to enlarge the department for an entirely new [4th] platoon. In this July 1969 photo, these seven new firefighters were sworn in by Town Clerk Thomas Raccio. L-R: Firefighters Richard Kenyon, Robert Viglione, Gregory Shammett, Ralph Tomaselli, Robert Macauley, John Reilly, and Douglas Yocher.
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| August 1972 in front of Truck 2 |
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| Doug with a friend atop Truck 2 |
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| October 18, 1972 - Tech Plywood Co, 1041 Dixwell Avenue (Photo by John Mongillo, Jr.) CLICK image for story. |
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In the above photo, the men on the right are moving the 2-1/2" lines to one side to make way for Ladder 2, which Firefighter Doug Yocher (in the foreground) is directing toward the driveway. The driver backed the truck in along side the building. The truck crew attached the ladder pipe to the top fly of the aerial, raised the aerial, charged the ladder pipe, and began deluging the flames. The main concern was City Fuel, the exposure immediately south of the fire building.
Doug recalled that the radiant heat was so intense on the firefighters manning 2-1/2" lines on the ground, that some of their bunker coats caught fire. But a quick repositioning of the ladder pipe stream took care of that.
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Fall 1976 - Capt. Jack Laffin, who took this picture, led a great crew on Platoon 4 at Station 3. It consisted of some outstanding firefighters who could be best described as "real characters," including Doug (pictured standing at left). Also standing here beside Engine 3 are Firefighters John Reilly and Art Heriot, and (kneeling) John O'Hare and Bill Davin.
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From the Meriden Record-Journal, October 27, 2009
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| © 2009 - Meriden Record |
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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Retired Cheshire Chief Doug Yocher, riding in that department's 1913 Ford Model-T chemical truck, was one of the highlights in that town's Memorial Day Parade last May. Driving this classic motor vehicle was HFD's Lieutenant Jeff Pechmann, a captain in the Cheshire department, who sent this great photo of Doug to the website.
Posted 10/5/2018
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Early 1950s Boys' Week Honorees
These two young guys are not identified, but during Boys' Week in the early 1950s they were treated to this photo op with Chief Raymond C. Spencer and Lieut. Roland "Rollie" Ruwet along side Hamden's 1938 "Squad" in front of Fire Headquarters.
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| I.A. Sneiderman photo courtesy of retired Chief Paul Wetmore Sr. and D/C Gary Merwede |
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Lieut. Roland Ruwet, at right, became a member of the career department in 1937. When paid officers were appointed in 1942, he was named as one of two paid lieutenants. The details are not clear, but old-timers have reported that health issues in the late 1940s sidelined Ruwet from line firefighting and he became the department's first "drillmaster."
Lieut. Ruwet retired 61 years ago this week. Born in November 1891, he passed away September 1, 1961.
Posted 10/5/2018
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NEVER FORGET!
We will always remember our brother firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice, and the thousands of other innocent victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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