Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Awards

Three Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company members received awards this year. Tom Post, Main station, received the Chief's Award given by Fire Chief James Baldis. The award goes to a member in recognition of accomplishments which exemplify dedication, initiative and responsibility in attaining a goal beneficial to the Simsbury Fire District, the Fire Company, its members and the community.

“Joining at the first opportunity at age 18, Tom Post remained active for his entire 51.9 years until reaching our mandatory retirement age of 70 at which time Post was unanimously voted to Honorary Life Status,” said Baldis.

Post worked with Bob Hintermister on the NFPA Learn Not to Burn program for elementary school students and in 1978 worked to establish the Cadet/Junior program for older school-age students. Post helped to coordinate the Junior Firefighter Challenge, a contest among local junior firefighter programs. Simsbury competed in each challenge and was a consistent winner.

Engineer Than Mai, Tariffville station, was nominated by two different captains for the Carl Banks Engineer's Award. Mai is the Engineer on a piece of apparatus housed at another station. “Mai volunteered to take a piece of apparatus that wasn’t even in his own station. What really made him exceptional is that he would show up every Monday after drilling with his own station just to ensure the truck was put back together properly,” said Assistant Chief Mike Brown.

To ensure that the apparatus is ready to respond to a fire or emergency, the engineer is responsible for a weekly inspection of the apparatus and for keeping the equipment ready for immediate use. Engineers check the fire apparatus and all the equipment on it, such as breathing apparatus.

The award is named in honor of Assistant Chief Carl Banks who was the chief mechanic for the Simsbury apparatus through the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. He helped maintain, repair and even build fire trucks. The Carl Banks award is given annually to an engineer for outstanding performance.

The Lea Hutchinson Service Award for initiative and capability in the fire service went to Firefighter Andrew Hart, West Simsbury station. Hart joined as a junior firefighter in 2016 and has completed many certification classes, including Firefighter I and II, Fire Instructor I, Emergency Medical Technician and Tanker Shuttle Operations. He is a licensed apparatus operator. “His captain describes him as a team player, always lending a hand around the station, which was evident this year when he stepped up to assist stations engineers on medical leave,” said Assistant Chief Kristin Kelley, who gave the award.

Lea Hutchinson was the first chief of the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, serving in that capacity for over 30 years.