Haddam Fire October 2011 Activity

Submitted by: Bob Norton, Public Relations Liaison for the Haddam Fire Company

Members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. responded to 52 calls for emergency services in October. The breakdown of calls is as follows:

Medical Emergencies -      26                  

Fires, alarms etc. -              6                    

Motor Vehicle Crashes -       7                   

Marine Emergencies -          2                   

Other – wires down, etc. -   11

These numbers represent the incidents that were recorded, but several have multiple response efforts. Early in the morning of October 11th, the Fire Company responded to a single car crash on Candlewood Hill Road. Firefighters stabilized the sole occupant who was thrown from the vehicle as it left the road and struck several trees. LIfestar Helicopter was requested and landed near the scene in an open field. Firefighers, along with a Paramedic from Middlesex Hospital and Haddam Ambulance EMTs transported the patient to the waiting helicopter.

Two large scale situations required multiple days’ worth of responses by Firefighters.

On Tuesday evening, October 18th, Firefighters were called to assist the East Haddam Fire Department searching for a missing resident. Members began the search at approximately 8:00pm, and were on scene until 4:00am. Gators, Marine 13 and multiple small trucks were used to search. During the day on Wednesday and Thursday, Fire Company members assisted with the search. On Saturday, October 22nd, a crew and Engine 1-13 stood by covering the Town of East Haddam while a massive search effort with emergency services and volunteer personnel was used. The victim was located that afternoon. Hundreds of man-hours were dedicated to the search and support effort.

On Saturday, October 29th, the early winter storm moved in. During one of the first calls, Firefighters were needed to extricate the victim of a one vehicle roll-over on the Route 82 connector. That person was transported by HVAS with a Middlesex Hospital Paramedic with non life-threatening injuries. Later that evening when the storm was getting more intense, a series of wires down calls, one resulting in several houses being involved, were responded to. Firefighters set up for two side-by-side structure fires on Route 81. Haddam Fire was assisted by members and apparatus from Killingworth, and had station coverage provided by the Chester Hose Company. 

Through the night, members manned fire houses as the primary radio communications system for the town went down in the storm. In the following days, many calls for wires down and requests for Fire Police support of line and tree crews were handled by the Fire Company. Again, hundreds of man hours were put in to protect the residents of Haddam.

The holidays are quickly approaching. Please keep in mind the risks of candles and other holiday decorations. Open burning candles should never be left unattended. Electrical outlets should not be overloaded. Exterior cords should have ground fault protectors at the outlets. An idea for a holiday gift for your family might be a new number sign if you don’t have one by the street.  Remember, numbers at least 3 inches tall must be on a contrasting background in full view of the road to help emergency responders find your house, as well as your neighbors. 

The members and officers of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

More information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved can be found on our website – www.HaddamFire.com.