Just after 1830 this evening, all 3 Trumbull fire departments were dispatched to 14 Briarcroft Avenue for the reported basement fire.

  At the time of this alarm, approximately 35 NFD members were attending the wake of Marie Franko, mother of Assistant Chief Ray Franko, Jr. and wife of Senior member Ray Franko, Sr.  Members immediately left the service and responded as the RIT to the alarm. 

LH 1 was first to arrive on scene and reported smoke showing from the D side of the structure with Squad 209 arriving right after.  The next due engine established water supply, while 204 and 104 performed searches and ventilation.   NFD truck 304 arrived on scene and provided RIT while 303 was detailed to additional ventilation and setting up fans.  LHFD members found a small fire in the A/B corner of the basement and suppressed it with their initial handline.   Units operated on scene for approximately 90 minutes and the Trumbull fire marshals office is investigating the cause.

The Nichols Fire Department would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Bridgeport Fire Department and the family and friends of Lieutenant Steve Velasquez and Firefighter Michael Baik.  Lt. Velasquez and FF Baik, assigned to Ladder 11, tragically lost thier lives yesterday in the line of duty while battling a blaze at a residence on Elmwood Ave.  Both members were working on the upper floor of the structure when a mayday was transmitted.  The Rapid Intervention Team was activated and minutes later, both members were removed from the structure and transported to area hospitals, but tragedy had already struck.

Wake and funeral arrangements have not been announced but will be posted as soon as possible.

At 1741 hours, Nichols was dispatched to 160 Hawley Lane, the Hawley Lane Professional building for the activated fire alarm.  During the dispatch, weather in the area treacherous with heavy rainfall, lightning and thunder.  Nichols Car 3 arrived on scene and reported a 3 story brick with nothing visible.  After the initial investigation, Car 3 requested that the assignment be reduced to Engine 301 after finding an activated smoke detector on the ground floor.  Units remained on scene for another 15 minutes assisting with the alarm reset and verifying no other problems.

At 1809, again the Nichols tone was transmitted for the report of smoke in a bedroom at a residence on West Lake Road after a lightning strike.  Quint 303 arrived on scene and reported nothing visible from the front and that they would be investigating.  Car 2 then arrived on scene, established command and had Engine 301 take nearby hydrant.  Engine 302 arrived and was assigned to position on the "B" side of the building and check the exterior of the residence for damage or fire.  Interior units reported some cracks in the drywall and found a computer and stove that were damaged from a lightning strike.  Members checked the entire structure for smoke and fire, finding none.  The town building department was requested to the scene.  Units were released after Car 3 gave the all clear from inside and Car 2 remained on the scene awaiting the Building department.

Finally, at 2309 hours a dive team deployment was requested for Long Hill and Trumbull Center Divers, with Nichols supplying 304 for air operations.  The incident was placed under control only 5 minutes after dispatch and were returned to service. 

At approximately 1620 hours all three fire districts were dispatched to the Trumbull Shopping Park for the report of a ceiling collapse with people possibly trapped.  First arriving units (Long Hill) found that a large section of the facade over the SBARRO restaurant in the food court had fallen and injured a several civilians.  There were no reports entrapment and the assignment was downgraded and auto aid (Trumbull Center and Nichols) were returned.  Long Hill units remained on scene awaiting the fire marshal and health departments for further investigation.  This is the second collapse of this type in 2 months, with the last event occuring on June 4th over the Taco Bell restaurant.

A thank you note was received only a few hours after members left the funeral coverage detail from Huntington Company 3 on Tuesday from Commissioner Marc Connelly.  Also, prior to departing, Chief of Department Fran Jones and Captain Justin Sabatino of Pine Rock stopped by and thanked all NFD members for covering during the 2 days.

Letter from Commissioner Connelly;

Chief,
 
I would like to take the time to formally thank your entire department and town for covering our city during the time of our Loss.  It was nice to know our department was able to attend both the wake and funeral and not have to worry about responding to alarms.
As Commissioner I am proud to say we work with the best departments in the state. To see 20 firefighters who gave up work to cover station 3 in Huntington was impressive.
 
Please let your membership know we appreciated their help.
 
Yours in service,
 
Marc A. Connolly
Commissioner HFC#3 
 

The Nichols Fire Department was requested to provide coverage at Huntington Company 3 in Shelton during the wake and funeral of Shelton Police Sergeant and Past White Hills Fire Department Captain Orville "Smitty" Smith.  While working a traffic post, Sgt. Smith was tragically killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver.  12 Nichols members on Rescue 300 and Engine 301 covered Company 3 during the wake and funeral.  Some photos of members doing equipment checks, drying off from a water accident and a group photo were taken during coverage on Tuesday.

A special thanks to Bob Novak Sr. of Hunnington Company 3, who was nice enough to hang out with the guys from Nichols and made sure that we were taken care of!  To Capt. Constantino and Commissioner Connelly, thank you for providing food and beverage to us during our coverage, it is duly noted!!!! 

Members of the Nichols Fire Department

At 1224 pm TRDC transmitted the tones for Nichols and Trumbull Center for the report of a motor vehicle accident at Nichols and Penny Avenues requiring extrication.  Units arrived on scene and found a multi car accident that required a door being popped open in order to gain access to one patient.  Members stabilized the vehicle and also disconnected power to ensure safe operations.

The following is a message from CT ALERT ENS (911):

This is an important message from First Selectman Tim Herbst and the Trumbull Office of Emergency Management.
The Trumbull area is experiencing a heat wave this week.
Trumbull residents are encouraged to take precautions. Limit strenuous outdoor activity. Drink plenty of water. Stay in the coolest possible place.
To cool off, Trumbull residents are encouraged to visit a cool place like Westfield Mall or Hawley Lane Mall, the Trumbull Libraries or you may want to catch a movie at Bow-Tie Cinemas. The pools at Beach Memorial Park and Tashua are open as are the sprinkler parks at Beach Memorial and Indian Ledge.
Seniors Citizens may want to visit the Senior Center to cool off between 9AM and 5PM. If seniors need a ride to the senior center they should call the transportation center at 203-452-5137.
This heat wave will continue through Friday. Heat advisories and Air quality alerts in effect. All residents are encouraged to use caution. Please check on your neighbors, particularly your more senior neighbors.
Thank you.

 

The final stats are in for the month of June and the Nichols Fire Department was quite busy.  Members responded to a total of 40 alarms which included 3 motor vehicle extrications, 2 stalled elevator entrapments and a ceiling collapse at the Trumbull mall.  The department was also requested to respond into the City of Bridgeport to provide assistance during their bout with a tornado while other members stayed behind answering calls during the same storm.  A very busy 30 days, with a job well done by our membership!

On 06/24/2010 at approximately 1410 hours, a storm ripped through the Bridgeport area including Trumbull.  The storm lasted a brief 20 minutes but brought with it devastating winds and heavy rain.  Within minutes of the storm reaching Trumbull, all three town departments started responding to wires and trees down calls.  At approximately 1425 hours, Trumbull Center and Nichols were dispatched to Daniels Farm Road at the intersection of White Plains Road for the reported tree onto a car with live wires down on top of it.  Rescue 300 and Quint 303 responded to the scene and stood by with Trumbull Center units until the power company was able to de-energize the power lines.  Nichols units then cut away tree branches and assisted Trumbull EMS with patient removal.  After apparatus cleared, Engine 301 and Rescue 300 were requested to respond mutual aid to the City of Bridgeport.  Units responded with 12 personnel and initially stood by at Bridgeport Fire Headquarters.  301 and 300 then assisted Bridgeport Fire units with handling several calls.  Brideport was probably hit the hardest from this storm and was considered a disaster area. 

At 0610 hours this morning TRDC transmitted all 3 companies tones for the reported automatic fire alarm at 55 Merritt Blvd, a unilever corporate building.  Nichols car 2 was first to arrive and reported nothing visible from the A or B sides and he was being met by a security guard.  The security guard reported that the panel was showing an activation of the Halon system in the computer center, but no agent had been dispersed.  Upon further investigation, an odor of electrical burning was found in the computer center and was investigated by Quint 303's crew.  Upon this report, Engine 301 was assigned to the FD connection located at the B/C corner of the building and was told to prepare to hook in.  Maintenance personnel with Unilever ended up locating a burned out computer server unit in the main computer room, disconnected power and removed the server from the location.  Units were released to return.

At approximately 7am, while units were returning from the first call, TRDC assigned units to channel 2 for the reported MVA with extrication on Hawley lane in the area of the Marriott hotel.  Nichols car 2 arrived on scene and reported Stratford Engine 2 on scene with an extrication in progress.  NFD units arrived on scene and assisted with stabilization, manning a protection line and disconnecting the battery.  Stratford personnel removed the drivers door and "B" post in order to access the patient who had broadsided a telephone pole.  The extrication process took less than 15 minutes and units were then released to pack up.  NFD units assisted Stratford with picking up and the call was determined to be in their town.  The patient was transported by Stratford EMS to the hospital.

This evenings drill was a culmination of over a months worth of training which concentrated on basic vehicle extrication and ended with a difficult scenrio.  To make the drill even more interesting, all of the current fire officers were removed from the drill and were asked to observe and make notes while observing the drill.  The officers were to only get involved when a safety issue would arise.  The members participating responded into the scene, gave a size up and then went to work!   The members found the drill to be challenging, tough and worth the effort.  At the completion of the drill the participants were asked to give their observations on how things went, what could have been done better and what went well.  The officers interjected information that was constructive and aimed at helping the younger members to become better incident commanders along with better skilled firefighters!  A fine job was done by all participants and we believe that all attending gained some form of education from this training.

Tonights monthly meeting was business as usual except for the end of the meeting.  During the final moments of tonights meeting, Commissioner Doug Doyle swore in 3 new junior members.  The highlight was that 2 of those members are sons of members currently serving on the department.  Mark Pugliese was the first to be sworn in and was escorted by his dad, Lt. Gary Pugliese to the front of the meeting room and recited the oath of office.  Following Mark was Billy O'Keefe escorted by his dad Lt. Bill O'Keefe Sr.  Again the oath was administered by Commissioner Doyle.  The evening was rounded out by John Gartsu being escorted by Asst Chief Ray Franko (no relation) and again the oath of office was administered.  We would like to wish all 3 new guys good luck and we look forward to serving alongside you!!!!

At 0939 this morning Trumbull Center was dispatched with Nichols as mutual aid to 1057 Daniels Farm Road for the reported rollover with entrapment.  TCFD engine 102 arrived first and reported 1 occupant still in the vehicle and that they would be taking the roof.  Rescue 300 arrived on scene and was assigned stabilization and assisting EMS with patient care.  Rescue 100 arrived on scene and deployed a protective handline and assisted with operations.  Units removed the roof of the vehicle, which was on its side, and gave patient care to Trumbull EMS. 

 At 11:04 am today, Trumbull’s 3 volunteer fire departments were dispatched to 5065 Main Street, Westfield Shoppingtown, for the report of a ceiling collapse in the food court area. First arriving firefighters, found a ceiling and facade collapse, of approximately 200 square feet, above and outside the Taco Bell restaurant. Firefighters immediately evacuated and cordoned off the area to protect the public, and shut down all utilities (gas, electric, etc..) in the area. The food court area adjacent to the Taco Bell was evacuated as a precaution and the Trumbull Building department, Health department and Fire Marshal’s office were requested to respond to the location. The Trumbull Police department assisted in securing the area, along with Westfield Shoppingtown management and security. The incident was declared under control at 11:23 hours by the fire departments incident commander

 There were no reported injuries and cause of the incident is under investigation.
 
     A total of 23 fire department personnel responded with 5 engine companies, 2 rescue companies and 3 chief officers.   The incident occurred in the Long Hill Fire District.