November Report

Members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company responded to 42 calls for emergency services in November:

Medical Emergencies – 21
Fires, alarms etc. – 12
Motor Vehicle Accidents – 8
Other – 1

Quite a bit of activity centered around a busy 60-hour period that included a structure fire in the middle of a brush fire, a fatal motor vehicle accident, a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle and an unfortunate string of medical emergencies. Here are some of the details.

An 83-year-old Guilford woman died following a one-vehicle crash on Nov. 14. Mary Jean Nichol succumbed to her injuries after the 1999 Ford Explorer she was in, driven by Bruce Nichol, 84, crashed into a tree off of Rt. 154 in Haddam. After being extricated by members of the Fire Company, the woman was presumed dead. Bruce Nichol was transported with serious injuries via Chester Ambulance to Hartford Hospital, where he later died.

Early in the afternoon on Nov. 15, Haddam firefighters began attacking a brush fire in a remote section of Cockaponset State Forest. This was the third brush fire in November, following one in the Lake Beseck area in Middlefield on Nov. 4 and another in the area of the Turkey Hill Reservoir on Nov. 10.

Firefighters reached the fire up rocky and dense terrain, on foot and via all-terrain vehicles. Firefighting teams circumnavigated the fire’s perimeter multiple times with rakes and water packs as other teams used chainsaws to widen an old logging trail to provide closer access to water and supplies.

At approx. 4 p.m., tones went out for a structure fire on Russell Road in Haddam. A fire started in the kitchen. No one was injured. Firefighters from Middletown’s South District, Killingworth, Chester and East Haddam provided mutual aid. The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical malfunction.

The following morning, firefighters extinguished a quarter-acre fire that started as a campfire before extending to a shed. Meanwhile, firefighting in the state forest resumed. The two-day brush fire that ultimately consumed more than 10 acres was extinguished after approximately 10 hours over two days and the efforts of more than 50 firefighters from area departments including Durham, Killingworth, Chester, Essex and East Haddam, in addition to the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The cause of each fire remains under investigation.

November was also a very busy month for training. Haddam Fire hosted a Connecticut Fire Academy-designed course and gained nine new licensed “big” apparatus drivers: Bill Buganski, Jed Morrissey, Rick Williams, Joe Tomasso, Aaron Rigono, Rob Lenois, Dan Casey, Peter Brown and Nick Stekl.

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more require either a “Q” endorsement on a regular driver’s license or a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) “B” category. The four-week course included classroom and hands-on instruction covering safety topics associated with large vehicles, including fire apparatus.

All nine Haddam Fire members who took the class successfully passed the Department of Motor Vehicles testing. Some took the written test for the CDL licenses, and all took the hands-on testing. DMV Inspectors came to the firehouse and administered the pre-trip, static course and on-road testing segments.

“The students all worked and practiced very hard and now have all the tools to be excellent emergency vehicle drivers,” said Fire Service Instructor Bob Norton of the HVFCo. “Having a pool of well trained apparatus drivers is key to getting trucks on the road as soon as possible.”

Twelve other firefighters from around the county also participated.

Congratulations also to Bill Buganski, Dan Dachelet, Jed Morrissey and Joe Tomasso who successfully completing their extrication qualification.

November drills included practice drafting from town water supplies and a knots, ladders and ATV exercise.

Save the date! On Saturday, Dec. 14, Santa rides into Station 1 to officially kick off the holiday season at our annual Children’s Christmas Party. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to get in line and Santa arrives at 6 p.m. The event typically goes until 8 p.m., or until the last child has seen Santa. The FREE party is open to all Higganum-Haddam children up to 10 years of age. The Fire Company also takes a digital photo for parents to take home. Cookies, candy canes, cider and coffee are provided by the Women’s Auxiliary and a raffle is held.

The Haddam Volunteer Fire Company wishes you and your family a Happy Holiday. Be extra mindful to SLOW DOWN when you’re out and about, especially in icy or snowy conditions, designate a driver if you plan to drink, properly dispose of fireplace embers and remove fire hazards around live Christmas trees. Remember, celebrating safely is everyone’s responsibility.

Do You Have What It Takes? Find more information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved at our website www.HaddamFire.com, or connect with us on Facebook.