Hot Off The Press: East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department News for January 2012

In case you have not already heard, there is a new Ranger in town: a brand new 2012 Polaris Ranger six-wheel-drive all-terrain utility rescue vehicle. The vehicle is known as the Ranger-15.

This heavy-duty off-road fire apparatus is able to traverse rugged terrain and drive through water over two feet deep. It has the ability to travel where fire trucks, brush rigs and pick-up trucks are unable to go. 

This is especially important in a town like East Haddam, with its abundance of preserve and forest land. Some of these areas have very limited access other than narrow walking trails.

In the past, East Haddam has had to rely on assistance from surrounding towns to bring in equipment like this in an emergency situation.

Ranger-15 is equipped to transport emergency personnel, victims, tools, equipment and water in the event of brush fires, lost persons and other rescue operations. 

The purchase of this new vehicle was made possible by the generosity and monetary contributions of East Haddam residents and area businesses. 

The initial base purchase price was $22,400. An additional $11,950 was allocated towards special firefighting and rescue equipment to outfit the vehicle, said East Haddam Fire Chief Don Angersola.

The East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department reports the following incidents for December 2011:

FIRE ALARM - 4 Hall Kilbourne Road, Thursday, Dec. 1 at 11:57 a.m.

INVESTIGATE EXPLOSION - 217 East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike, Friday, Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m.

OUTSIDE FIRE INVESTIGATION - Bashan Road, Friday, Dec. 2 at 5:50 p.m.

FIRE ALARM - 1 Hopyard Road, Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 1:44 a.m.

STRUCTURE FIRE - 31 Grist Mill Road, Friday, Dec. 9 at 4:46 p.m.

MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENT - Falls Road, (Route 149) Friday, Dec. 9 at 8:02 p.m.

FIRE ALARM - 5 Landing Hill Road, Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 8:38 p.m.

CARBON MONOXIDE INVESTIGATION - 229 Town Street, Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 10:45 a.m.

CHIMNEY FIRE - 30 Hickory Lane, Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7:47 p.m.

FIRE ALARM - 307 Town Street, Monday, Dec. 19 at 2:08 a.m.

FIRE ALARM - 94 Mount Parnassus Road, Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 4:44 p.m.

STRUCTURE FIRE - 6 Evergreen Lane, Thursday, Dec. 22 at 9:08 a.m.

PROPANE LEAK - 40-B Palmer Martin Road, Friday, Dec. 23 at 7:22 a.m.

CHIMNEY FIRE - 9 Robbie Road, Friday, Dec. 23 at 3:54 p.m.

SMOKE INVESTIGATION - 27 Powerhouse Road, Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 4:01 p.m.

OUTSIDE FIRE INVESTIGATION - 67 Ray Hill Road, Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8:00 p.m.

WIRES DOWN - 26 Paula Road, Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8:12 p.m.

TRANSFORMER INCIDENT - 114 Alger Road, Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 9:46 p.m.

FIRE ALARM - 11 Catchfly Pointe, Saturday, Dec. 31 at 8:00 p.m.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the , contact Chief Don Angersola at: EHaddamFireChief@comcast.net.