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January to March 2010
Regular weekly Friday website updates commenced on April 1, 2011.
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| French-Italian Fire - January 24, 1985 |
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| CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS |
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25 Years Ago
French-Italian Fire
1206-1216 Dixwell Avenue
Thursday, January 24, 1985
CLICK on the photo at LEFT to view a new webpage devoted to the fire twenty-five years ago at the "French-Italian" Building.
Posted 1/24/10
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| January 24, 1985 Newscasts |
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| Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and . . . |
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| April 1988 - Mark "Batman" Barletta (Photo by Dave Johnson) |
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Through the years the Hamden Fire Department has been blessed with a few individuals who have genuine expertise in certain areas that some people find difficult to deal with. Starting in the late 1980s, Mark "Batman" Barletta was the head of the department's official "Bat Relocation Team," which was often called upon to intervene in situations involving the flying rodents that many folks associate with bites, rabies and Bela Lugosi.
Some of us remember when we dealt with bats using a prolonged frigid spray from a CO2 extinguisher. Mark had the knowledge and experience to know how to properly rid a residence of these creatures without hurting them.
Mark went on to become Deputy Fire Marshal and then Fire Marshal. He is now the Chairman of the Hamden Fire Retirees' Association.
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| Centerville Co. 4 (on left) built in 1907 - Demolished in 1924 for new Town Hall (Hamden Historical Society photo) |
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| "An unscheduled way to participate in the Hamden Parade" was the newspaper caption for this 1967 Memorial Day photo. (I.A. Sneiderman) |
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| Old Station 3 dayroom - January 1966 - Sid Trower, Lt. Joe McDermott and Ray Bantz (Photo by Ed Doiron) |
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HFRA Winter Meeting at the Elks
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Our 5th meeting was held at the Hamden Elks Lodge, with 23 members attending.
CLICK at left for photos.
CLICK at right for meeting minutes.
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Factory Photos
All fire apparatus manufacturers take photos of their apparatus before they leave the factory. Chan Brainard has provided two factory photos of Hamden pumpers from the Maxim Co. of Middleboro, Massachusetts. The 1954 Maxim was the last of three 750 GPM pumpers of the postwar design, the first two being 1951 and 1952 models. It was also the last red apparatus Hamden would purchase new for the next 11 years. The 1959 Maxim was the first of the "cab-forward" design manufactured by Maxim. This honor went to Hamden because Maxim's first pumping engine was delivered to Whitneyville in 1915. Virtually all fire apparatus today is of the "cab-forward" design.
Posted 1/1/10
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| Factory Photo - 1954 Maxim 750 |
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| Factory Photo - 1959 Maxim "Cab-Forward" |
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| Dick Stacey in the foreground and Carmen Amarante in the background rolling hose at Station 2 with two unidentified firefighters in the mid-1960s (Photo by Stan Brown, courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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| (Photo courtesy of John O'Hare) |
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This late-1950s photo shows the trophy presentation following a benefit softball game between Hamden's fire and police departments. Left to right: John O'Hare and B/C Everett Doherty from the fire department, and Dan Liston, Chief Bob Thatcher and Jack Sarracco from the police department.
Posted 1/18/10
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| 1985 Fire Department Annual Report |
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| 1985 - Ff. Tom Conway demonstrates ABC extinguisher at Fire Prevention Day |
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You will always see lots of firefighters and fire apparatus in a parade.
A new "Parades" webpage has been added for the new parade photos that are coming in all the time.
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| CLICK to view video |
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Rick Kenyon sent us the link to this YouTube video demonstrating a new method of CPR for certain types of situations. We are posting this for your information.
Mayo Clinic Presentation of Continuous Chest Compression CPR - Cardiocerebral Resuscitation Cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) is a new approach to patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest that has been shown to improve rates of neurologically intact survival by 250%--300% over the approach advocated by the 2000 American Heart Association guidelines. And EMS systems can realize these improvements without having to buy a single new gadget or device.
CLICK on the photo to view the video.
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82 members signed up as of 1/12/10
January 12, 2010: The largest turn out of retirees so far attended the luncheon at the Hamden Elk's Hall on Tuesday, January 12th. Minutes of the meeting will be posted on the website in the next day or two.
NEXT MEETING will be a BRUNCH
Wednesday, April 21st at 11 AM, at the Hamden Elks Club, 175 School Street.
Details will be posted later and postcard reminders will be sent to everyone.
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27 Edwards Street
Saturday, February 9, 1985
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Several occupants were rescued by Hamden firefighters in a two-alarm blaze that heavily damaged a three-family house at 27 Edwards Street. Extremely cold temperatures, high winds and icy conditions made fighting the blaze especially difficult. Five firefighters were injured.
Joe Ciscone has been taking fire photos for over thirty years. Now a 22-year veteran of the East Haven Fire Department, Joe was on the scene that day and he took some amazing photos. We are very grateful to Joe for allowing our website to post his photos, which are copyrighted © 2009 by Joe Ciscone.
A total of 17 photos of the Edwards Street fire, as well as 25 photos of the French-Italian fire a month earlier, all of which are available for purchase from Joe's website.
Posted 2/9/2010
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| © 1985 - The New Haven Register - B&W newspaper photos by Kirby Kennedy and John Mongillo, Jr. (newspaper photo courtesy of Jim Moore) |
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Five firefighters were injured while fighting this two-alarm blaze in a three family house at 27 Edwards Street. Several occupants were rescued, including a 23-year old woman who was trapped on the third floor.
According to The Hamden Chronicle, "Firefighters Wayne Lowry, Carl Backus and James Moore reached the third floor through the front staircase of the building and broke down the locked door behind which the woman, Donna Williams, was trapped."
The extreme cold and icy conditions made this an especially trecherous job for the 35 firefighters who were on the scene. News accounts stated that near zero temperatures and very high winds brought the wind chill to minus 35 degrees.
Several inch and three-quarter lines were stretched up the front and rear stairways for an interior attack that kept flames from the unburnt portions of the building. A master stream from the ladder pipe of Truck 2 successfully protected an adjacent building only a few feet from the fire building. Thirteen residents were relocated through the Red Cross.
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| ©1985 The Register Publishing Co. - February 10, 1985 edition of The New Haven Register |
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| Photo by Joe Ciscone - (c) 2009 Joe Ciscone |
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| Photo by Joe Ciscone - (c) 2009 Joe Ciscone |
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| Photo by Joe Ciscone - (c) 2009 Joe Ciscone |
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| Photo by Joe Ciscone - (c) 2009 Joe Ciscone |
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Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this webpage are © Copyright 2009 by Joe Ciscone.
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| Awards Ceremony - October 18, 1985 |
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During his tenure, Fire Chief John Tramontano held three ceremonies to honor department members. The 1st Awards Ceremony took place on October 18, 1985, at which time the crew members of Engine 2, Platoon 3 were awarded the department's Medal of Honor.
On February 9, 1985, Engine 2 was first to arrive at a working fire in a three family house at 27 Edwards Street. Alerted by neighbors that a woman was trapped on the third floor, the crew raced up two flights of a rear stairway. Firefighter Carl Backus (extreme right) broke down the door to the third floor apartment, which was well involved. The crew rescued a 23-year old pregnant woman. Three from Engine 2 were injured; one was hospitalized.
Pictured left to right: Lieut. Donald LaBanca, Ff. Jim Moore, Dep. Chief Walter Macdowall, Chief Tramontano, Firefighters Wayne Lowry and Carl Backus.
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| Firefighter Alfred Ramelli |
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Firefighter Alfred Ramelli
(1921 - 1972)
The final presentation at the 1st Awards Ceremony was a very special one for all department members.
The Department's Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Firefighter Alfred Ramelli. Firefighter Ramelli was stricken on duty just before Christmas 1971 and died January 1, 1972.
Chief Tramontano presented the award to Firefighter Ramelli's son, Firefighter Raymond Ramelli.
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| It's that time of year . . . |
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| December 31, 2000 - On the very last day of the 20th Century, Firefighter Paul Turner digs out. We might be doing this again nine years later, too. (Photo by Bob Mordecai) |
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| February 8, 1967 - Lt. Bill Hines with Firefighters Gil Spencer and John Hoffman clearing the hydrant at Sanford and Dixwell. |
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| CLICK on the photo to read about Hamden's Civil Defense Fire Auxiliary. |
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| CLICK on the photo to read a Meriden Record-Journal article about Doug Yocher's 50+ years in the fire service. |
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| CLICK on the photo to read about Chief Raymond C. Spencer |
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| Butterworth's Giant Valley Farm - August 7, 1940 |
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| Mt. Carmel's 1930 Maxim 600 GPM at Butterworth's Farm in August 1940. (Photo courtesy of G. Donald Steele) |
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Butterworth's Giant Valley Farm, on Tuttle Avenue about a mile in from Whitney Avenue, has been the scene of three major fires: in August 1940, February 1955, and August 1998. A review of all three fires, including photos, news articles and TV news videos, is in the works.
Posted 2/13/10
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Ladder Training - June 1982
Photos by John Tramontano
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2010 Local 2687 Annual Dinner at Laurel View C.C.
February 27, 2010
Capt. Dennis Baker Honored at Annual Retirement Dinner
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| Retirees at Local 2687 Annual Dinner Honoring Capt. Dennis Baker (CLICK to read more and for more photos) |
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In Florida: Firefighters as Correctional Officers
Our thanks to Richie Maybury, who sent along an article published February 5, 2010 in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Apparently a sign of the times, Volusia County, Florida officials are looking for ways to save money. And guess where they are looking? CLICK on the icon at left to read the article.
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CLICK on the Maltese cross at the left to view the memorial tribute to our friends and colleagues, all past career members of the Hamden Fire Department.
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| CLICK here to visit the official website of the Hamden Professional Firefighters, Local 2687, I.A.F.F. |
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This website is open to all visitors, except for the "Secure Pages," which are available to retirees only.
When you click on the "Secure Pages" page, you will be prompted to enter a user name and password. On the "User Name" line, type the name of the current month in all lower case letters.
The PASSWORD for "Secure Pages" is on the back page of the minutes that were mailed to all retirees on June 13th.
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Corrections and contributions to the website are welcome.
Scanned photos can be either in JPG or GIF format.
Please email Dave Johnson at HFDBadge102@aol.com
Your original photos are welcome, too. Just send them to:
Hamden Fire Retirees
P.O. Box 185605
Hamden, CT 06518-0605
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| Following the swearing in, Deputy Chief Surprise poses with wife, Debbie, and children Liza and Kevin. CLICK for article and more photos. (Photo by Bob Mordecai) |
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35 Years Ago
Saturday, March 1, 1975 in Shelton - the great Sponge Rubber Co. Fire - Hamden's Engine 3 Telesqurt is among many out of town fire apparatus to respond on mutual aid. Shelton's 1938 Ahrens-Fox piston pumper, drafting from the Housatonic River, supplied Engine 3 and several other pumpers.
Posted 3/1/10
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| 30 Years Ago!
Mountain Rescue Team
Sunday, October 31, 1982
When three Branford teenagers got lost after dark on Sleeping Giant State Park, HFD's Mountain Rescue Team was called in. Fortunately, the kids turned up after police dogs located them only a short distance from the ranger station.
WTNH Channel 8 News covered the incident. Several of the Mountain Rescue Team members, including Chick Manware, Tony Melillo, John Tramontano and Ed Charbonneau, can be seen in the news report.
Posted 3/26/10
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| Lt. Bill "Salty" Marak |
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| Richie Lostritto - March 22, 1954 |
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| c. 1942 |
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| Swearing in Lieuts. Esposito and LaBanca (1984) and Mechanic Melillo (1987) |
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| Bob Macauley, Bob Anthony and Jimmy Dunlop - 1991 |
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| May 24, 2000 - Station 9 - Ff. Ray Dobbs, Capt. Bob Viglione and Ff. Kevin O'Hare (Photo by Bob Mordecai) |
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| CLICK on this photo to read more about "Belle," the 1940s mascot of Station 3. (Courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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December 8, 1984
Smoke House Training At Wallingford Fire Headquarters
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| Photo by John Tramontano |
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In conjunction with Fire Fighter I certification for all Hamden career and volunteer personnel, the Wallingford Fire Department kindly offered the use of their training tower and smoke house over the next few months. This was the first group of career personnel. From the clean appearance of everyone in the photo above, it was obviously shot before interior firefighting activies began. More photos from this particular exercise will be posted in the near future.
Standing (L-R): Ff. Chick Manware, Ff. Ed Badamo, Ff. Charlie Cargan, Ff. Tom Hart, Ff. Ray Ramelli, Ff. Frank Kafka, Ff. Dave McDermott, Ff. Augie Williams, Ff. Paul Petrillo, Ff. Gerry Dinneen, Ff. Brian Forsyth, Capt. Dave Johnson, Ff. Ralph Tomaselli, and Ff. Frank Critchett.
Kneeling: Ff. Tom Conway, Lt. Jack Calamo, and Ff. Paul Wetmore, Jr. The fellow hidden behind Manware on the left is Asst. Supt of Alarms Paul Wetmore, Sr.
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Water Rescue Training - 1966
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| ". . . and don't come back 'til ya catch a trout this long." |
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This photo, dated June 9, 1966, was captioned "Refresher Course in Water Rescue." It looks like the location might be Lake Whitney near Greenway Street. In the boat are Ff. Milner Benham and Lt. Bill Hines. On shore (L-R) are Dep. Chief Training Officer Daniel Hume, Lt. Daniel O'Connell, Ffs. Art Heriot, Paul Wetmore, Sr., Paul Reutenauer, and Gilbert Spencer. The photographer is not known.
Posted 3/12/10
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October 31, 1981 - When visiting the credit union at town hall, retired deputy chiefs Joe Hromadka (in hat) and Ken Harrington often stopped in at Station 4. They are pictured here in the Alarm Room less than three weeks before fire dispatch operations were moved to the new Central Communications. Ff. Jim Koutopolos is in the doorway at left.
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