Haddam Volunteer Fire Company Salutes the Efforts of the East Haddam Fire Department

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

Living in a small town has its advantages. When times are tough, neighbors from the community, and people from near and far, come to help. This is how it was in East Haddam over the past week, while the East Haddam Fire Department searched for Bob Masci. From Tuesday evening on, a valiant effort was made and coordinated by the officers and members. 

Night and day, searches were conducted on land and in the water. Throughout the entire incident, the professionalism of all agencies must be admired. As the search was ramped up on Saturday to handle a multi-town, multi-county response, Fire Department officers and members brought in the resources necessary to search and support those who were coming to help. A tremendous amount of planning took place – where to stage volunteers, how to move them around, and how to keep them safe – all were of the utmost concern. 

Saturday morning brought hundreds of Firefighters, EMS personnel, Police and citizens. They descended upon the little town of East Haddam in droves. With the resources and planning in place, the effort moved rapidly and efficiently.  Communications with teams in the field worked well. The accountability system to keep track of everyone was daunting.

In the end a loved one, a person highly regarded by the community, was found and cared for one last time. While the outcome was not at all what was hoped for, the efforts put on by many, largely coordinated by the East Haddam Fire Department, was a bright spot for the town. The community was held together and came together for a common goal. 

The Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. is proud to have been asked to be a part of the search during the incident and salutes the officers and members of the East Haddam Fire Department for their tireless efforts.