Crime & Safety
HVFCo. January Report
January calls included a structure fire on Route 81 and two chimney fires, one with extension through the walls.
Members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company responded to 31 calls for emergency services in January:
Medical Emergencies – 14
Fires, alarms etc. – 12
Motor Vehicle Accidents – 5
On Jan. 10, Haddam Fire was dispatched to a two-story colonial on Killingworth Road (Rt. 81) showing heavy fire and smoke. The homeowner escaped without injury, but lost his dog.
Responding departments included Haddam, Killingworth, Chester, Durham, Clinton, East Haddam and Haddam Neck, also joined by Haddam Volunteer Ambulance Service. Middletown South District provided a Rapid Intervention Team and Essex provided station coverage for Haddam.
Haddam Fire Marshal Bill Robbins and the State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause.
A chimney fire at a residence on Orchard Road on Jan. 7 engulfed the home in smoke. The fire, it was discovered, stemmed from a faulty fireplace in a rear bedroom. Firefighters removed a section of a neighboring wall and ceiling, and snuffed out the fire with two water extinguishers. Firefighters also crawled into the home’s attic with thermal imaging cameras to check for hot spots, and inspected the chimney from the rooftop, finding no further extension. Fire Marshal Robbins was on scene to investigate. Another chimney fire, this one without extension, was reported Jan. 19 at a residence on Christian Hill Road.
Winter Storm
In anticipation of the blizzard, on Jan. 26 members added tire chains to apparatus prior to the heavy snow and travel ban. Some volunteers staffed the firehouses overnight. The HVFCo. would like to thank all residents for making storm preparations and abiding by the travel ban. It made an enormous difference for road crews and emergency responders.
Community Outreach
During the Health & Safety Fair Jan. 15 at Valley Bible Church in Haddam, Probationary Member Nate Bugbee and Junior Member Kaleb Mislick taught Cub Scout Pack 40 about fire safety and demonstrated how to don firefighting gear in 40 seconds.
Training
Drills included CPR Initials/Refreshers, Pre-Plan Review, and Safety and Survival.
Do You Have What It Takes? Find more information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved at our website www.haddamfire.com, or connect with us on Facebook.
