CLICK on the Maltese cross at the right to view the memorial tribute to our friends and colleagues, all past career members of the Hamden Fire Department.
Revised 5/2/11
Weather Vane Restaurant Fire Monday, December 7, 1964
Gil Spencer has provided an 8mm home movie, taken by his uncle, Harold Spencer of Hamden, of the December 1964 fire that destroyed the Weather Vane Restaurant. The Weather Vane was a well known landmark that stood just past Brooksvale Avenue on the east side of Whitney Avenue.
The movie has been digitally transcribed and is now available on YouTube. Click on the photo at right to watch the YouTube video.
Posted 12/6/09
Station 6 Home Movie! January 1969
Harold Mangler and Frank Cubbellotti were on duty at Station 6 when someone took an 8mm home movie there. The fire station was still owned by the Merritt Street volunteers, although they had not been active for several years. The quality of the film isn't too bad. There are occasional "pop-ups" that provide some additional information about the station, the apparatus and the guys who worked there that day. Enjoy!
Posted 10/15/10
Engine 5 on videotape Friday, March 16, 1973
This is a brief videotape recording, made on a SONY reel-to-reel B&W video tape recorder, of Engine 5 responding out of Station 5. The sound track is lost, but the video clearly shows Station 5 before the annex was built. Tony Melillo can be seen donning his bunker coat and climbing into the driver seat of the 1952 Maxim pumper.
Posted 7/27/09
September 4, 1975 Mt. Carmel Annex Dedication
Thirty-five years ago, the annex of Station 5 in Mt. Carmel was officially dedicated in a ceremony that featured Mayor Lucien DiMeo, Chief V. Paul Leddy and Rev. Owen Sandesron, department chaplain, as the featured speaker.
Two unrelated facts about the event stand out three and one-half decades later. First, it was the last time a completely new structure was built for the purpose of housing Hamden fire apparatus. And second, the event was video taped at a time when home video was still years in the future.
CLICK to view remarks by Chief Leddy, Mayor DiMeo and Rev. Sanderson. Several past and present members of the paid department (in 1975!) were introduced by Chief Leddy.
Posted 9/4/10
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 News covered the incident and several of the team members, including Chick Manware, Tony Melillo, John Tramontano and Ed Charbonneau, can be seen in the news report.
Posted 3/26/10
Treadwell Industrial Park Fire Tuesday, January 4, 1983
Two news accounts of the January 4, 1983 general alarm fire at the Treadwell Industrial Park. Interviews with Chief V. Paul Leddy and several occupants. Also, quick glimpses of pump operator Paul Frodel and Art Heriot. Click on the photo at right to watch the YouTube video.
Posted 8/6/09
M.D.A. Telethon Local 2687 Presentations September 1983 and 1984
Video clips from the 1983 and 1984 Jerry Lewis M.D.A. Telethon showing department members presenting Local 2687's checks for donations that were received at local shopping centers. Enjoy!
Posted 8/9/09
"French-Italian" Fire Thursday, January 24, 1985
CLICK on the photo at left to view a YouTube selection showing coverage from three local newscasts (WVIT-Channel 30, WTNH-Channel 8 and WFSB-Channel 3), followed by several minutes of raw video footage taken by freelance videographer Pete Thomas, who often contributed to local television newscasts.
Posted 2/10/10
Hamden's Bicentennial Parade Sunday, May 11, 1986
In May 1986, Storer Cable TV videotaped Hamden's Bicentennial Parade, which was broadcast on the company's local access station. A four minute excerpt of the video, featuring the Hamden Fire Department marching unit and apparatus, is now on YouTube. Also included are the Mix District Volunteer Fire Co. marching unit and its vintage fire apparatus.
Click on the photo to watch the video.
Posted 8/19/11
CLICK on photo to view video
Live Fire Training 195 Arch Street May 1986
In May 1986, an old house on Arch Street was scheduled for demolition to make way for a new condo complex. The owners, the Pasqualoni family of Cheshire, donated the house to the Hamden Fire Department for live fire training. During the last two weeks of May, training in fire attack and ventilation tactics was conducted for all career and volunteer firefighters.
Over the course of two weeks, Vic Mitchell documented much of the training on his new VHS camcorder. During the final day of training, just before we let the building rip, the exercises were attended by a very unexpected visitor.
Posted 10/25/10
CLICK to view Davenport Fire video
Davenport Residence Fire 125 Putnam Avenue Wednesday, May 25, 1988
The Hamden Fire Department faced its most potentially disastrous emergency twenty-two years ago when fire broke out at the Davenport Residence, an eight story apartment building for the elderly at 125 Putnam Avenue.
CLICK on top photo to view a ten minute video that was produced immediately afterward by the department's training division. Amateur and TV news video, and the actual HFD radio transmissions, helped to chronicle the extraordinary efforts put forth by Hamden firefighters, and those of the Bethany, Cheshire, New Haven, and North Haven departments, from the time of dispatch until the building was completely evacuated.
An effective incident command system, early calls for mutual aid, and the C-MED emergency medical disaster plan dovetailed perfectly to avert what would have been a major tragedy.
CLICK on the lower photo to view several news stories that were provided by the WTNH-8 and WFSB-3 news departments. The video starts with a scene from an iconic 1980s NBC television series' final episode that was being broadcast at the moment Box 295 was being transmitted. A few minutes later came the news bulletin during the 11 o'clock news on Channel 8.
Posted 5/24/10
CLICKI to view Davenport news stories
Day After the Hamden Tornado Tuesday, July 11, 1989
An F4 tornado ripped through southern Hamden, leaving damages in the millions of dollars. The 1989 tornado was an incredible challenge for the department.
While tape rolled, commentary was added occasionally to establish exact locations because many areas were unrecognizable.
Posted 7/3/09
Hamden High School Fire Tuesday, September 24, 1996
Three separate television news accounts of the 1996 fire at the Hamden High School addition that was under construction.
Posted 7/24/09
Butterworth's Giant Valley Farm 640 Tuttle Avenue Monday, August 10, 1998
A large horse barn and two other buildings were destroyed by a fire at the Butterworth's Farm late in the afternoon on Monday, August 10, 1998. Hamden firefighters were hindered by dry weather, high winds and no permanent water supply at the Tuttle Avenue site. Mutual aid companies from Bethany, Cheshire, Wallingford and North Branford provided portable ponds and tankers. CLICK and view a blend of two television newscasts.
Posted 12/7/09
May 15, 2010
The Hamden Fire Department recently conducted a rural water supply drill with five other area fire departments.
CLICK to view a four-minute YouTube synopsis of the drill.
