6 Norwalk Firefighters Honored For Rescue Efforts

NORWALK, CT — The CT District Exchange Club recently hosted their annual "Salute To CT’s Bravest" by honoring 24 firefighters from around Connecticut at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

The event took place Oct. 21. In a news release, Deputy Fire Chief Edward Prescott said six Norwalk firefighters were put forward by the Norwalk Exchange Club for their efforts in rescuing six people in Long Island Sound with the Departments Marine Division during two separate incidents.

The first incident occurred April 18, during which Fireboat 238 responded to a report of two jet skis stranded approximately one mile from Veteran’s Park. MU238 notified the Coast Guard that it had located two people on Goose Island, but there were too many rocks for the fireboat to safely approach the victims, Prescott said.

Firefighter David Dustin donned a Mustang Ice Commander dry suit and swam about 150 yards to the island with the vessel’s tow line. Dustin attached the tow line to one of the jet skis and assisted both of the operators onto the jet ski. The MU238 crew then pulled the jet ski out to deeper water, assisted the operators aboard MU238 and returned to pick up Dustin, Prescott said.

While the two operators were showing signs of hypothermia, crew members provided blankets and towels to warm the victims and brought them to Veteran’s Park for Norwalk Hospital Medics to evaluate.

The Fireboat 238 crew consisted of Lt. Efstathios Papadopoulos, Coxswain Firefighter Ronald Kayal, Firefighter Hector Ramirez, Firefighter David Dustin.

The second incident occurred July 28 around 9:30 p.m., during which Fireboat 238 was dispatched to a cell phone call from four men whose boat capsized in the area of Grassy Island. Under a choppy sound and cloudy sky, the firefighters spotted the four men clinging to the hull of the vessel near Copps Island, Prescott said.

Fireboat 238 was skillfully maneuvered through the rocky coast of the island to reach the men as a Coast Guard vessel stood by. The men told the firefighters they had been in the water for over an hour and were grateful to be found, Prescott said. They were then taken to Veterans Park where Norwalk Hospital medics evaluated them.

The Fireboat 238 crew consisted of Lt. Eugene DeAngelis, Coxswain Mike Vinci, Firefighter Ronald Kayal and Firefighter Hector Ramirez.

According to Prescott, the Norwalk Fire Department operates two fireboats 24/7, 365 days a year, and is staffed by firefighters of Engine Company 3 in East Norwalk. The fireboats are docked at the Veterans Park public docks.