New Canaan volunteer and career firefighters joined children and parents from the New Canaan Winter Club for a morning skate and hockey practice session, and were all suprised by the entrance of Santa - on skates!

Both the firefighters and Santa participated in the morning skating drills, and afterwards gave the kids a tour of one of the fire engines. 

If you have a group that would like to participate in a community relations event, please contact Assistant Chief Kimes at rkimes@newcanaanfire.com.

New Canaan Firefighters practice basic SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) search. This drill took place at the Lapham Community Center in New Canaan, and gave our many new firefighters their first experience with searching in a completely dark environment.

Life long member of our community and  member of New Canaan Fire Company # 1 was presented with his 50 year pin in a special ceremony held at Open house on October 10th. Firefighter Pinder was given his recognition pin by President Parrett and Chief Karl while surrounded by family and friends.

Firefighters from the New Canaan Fire Company participated in "fire streams" practical application training last Thursday.  Many new "probationary" members got their first opportunity to work with 1 3/4" attack lines.

Double-click the video to launch in seperate window.

The New Canaan Fire Company participated in a multi-department tanker shuttle drill, hosted by Wilton FD. Participating departments were Wilton, New Canaan, Georgetown, Weston, Vista, Ridgefield, Stamford and Norwalk.

Double-click video to go to open in new window.

A call of smoke from a structure came in around 0930 hours on St Johns Place. Firefighters could see smoke on Pine Street while heading to the scene. Assistant Chief Jack Hennessey confirmed structure fire. The structure was a detached 7 bay garage. The fire was located in an end bay. The flames had completely demolished the garage door before emergency services had arrived. No one was injured during the fire.

 
Firefighter Paul Wilson drove the first apparatus on scene, while Captain Rob Petrone completed the size up. Firefighter Kevin Vetti pulled the first line with assistance of Firefighter Mike Sasser. Lieutenant Don Gesualdi and Captain Eugene Tiani arrived on the second due apparatus and quickly went to work. Firefighter Dave DiPanni and Firefighter Mike Sasser vented the roof.
 
The main body of the fire was out within ten minutes and firefighters then opened the other bays to see the extension of the fire. The fire was contained to only the one, end bay.
 
Cause is still to be determined by Fire Marshal Fred Baker and the office of the State Fire Marshal.

New Canaan Firefighters and members of the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps conducted a simulated multi-car motor vehicle accident scenario.  Approximately 45 firefighters and EMT's participated in the drill.

Click here to watch the video from the drill (two parts). Or double-click the video to open in a seperate window.

For all members, the latest version of the SOP's are availible for download as a PDF in the file locker.  This PDF features chapters and a search feature.

New Canaan Fire Company would like to thank all of the town’s people of New Canaan who made the generous donations that allowed us to purchase the new Bullex® Intelligent Training System. The ITS unit will train members of the fire company, CERT, and the community on proper uses and techniques of fire extinguishers in a clean and safe environment.

 
“New Canaan Fire Company will be able to offer fire extinguisher training and classes to the citizens of New Canaan. We will be able to explain how fire works, how fire extinguishers work and the 3 classes of fire on an interpersonal level. With the portability of the Bullex® unit, we will be able to go out to the community to work with small groups using hands-on guidance,” said Firefighter Haven Requa.
 
The Bullex® system uses a propane fire with electrical controls. It is able to emulate the 3 main classes of fire on four intensity levels. The “smart” extinguishers work with ultrasonic waves and minimal water.
 
The “smart” extinguishers adapt to the user by showing when the learner is incorrect and when they are correct, by adjusting the flames. “It will allow the citizens of New Canaan to have a practical hands on experience with real fire to have the confidence to use a fire extinguisher if they are ever in need” said Chief Edward Karl. A further grant was given by CERT, to purchase an additional “smart” extinguisher.
 
For more information on having firefighters train your group please email training@newcanaanfire.com.

The New Canaan Fire Company #1 takes great pleasure in announcing that eleven volunteer firefighters from New Canaan as well as surrounding mutual aid departments have successfully completed a two-month course in Fire Apparatus driving, culminating with a State of Connecticut DMV licensing test that occurred Saturday the 1st of August.

The course was 36 hours in length and covered topics such as pre-trip vehicle inspections, driving safely, emergency driving, as well as including the National Safety Council “Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator” certificate. The course was sponsored and instructed by volunteers at minimal expense to the town.
 
The graduates are as follows: New Canaan Fire Company #1 – Mike Fico, Win Goodrich, Adam Jones, John Soyland, Brendan Tobin, and Jamie Wolff. Turn of River Fire Department (Stamford) – Andy Bodnar, Matt Kellick, and Alan Munter. Long Hill Fire Department (Trumbull) – Brian Tiani. Greenwich Volunteer Hose & Chemical Co. – Capt. Ken Taylor.

New Canaan Fire will be hosting a state certified Ct Pump Operators Class starting on September 12th . There are 6 full day classes held on Saturdays and Sundays. Please contact Steve Parrett with questions at

training@newcanaanfire.com

Where else but New Canaan can you take a family of four out for ice cream and pizza for less than $5.00? On Wednesday, April 29 from 5pm to 10pm Baskin Robbins in paring with Joe’s Pizza, The Bank of New Canaan, and New Canaan Fire for 31¢ Scoop Night.

 
While last year’s scoop night sold close to 1,700 scoops and 1,800 slices of Joe’s pizza. Not to mention 400 piggy banks handed out from The Bank of New Canaan with 31¢ jingling inside. This year’s event plans to be just as big and bold! Baskin Robbins and Joe’s Pizza will be working hard all night to hand out as may scoops and slices as they can for 31¢ each. Firefighters will be in attendance to collect donations for the Mikey Czech Foundation. Along with James Daniels Music and Entertainment to keep your family entertained all night. i-Blast will be there selling cards and will be donating 31% of their proceeds to the Mikey Czach Foundation.
 
This evening was started due to a generous $100,000 donation from Baskin Robbins corporate to the National Volunteer Fire Council’s National Junior Firefighter Program. Here in New Canaan, all proceeds will go to the Mikey Czech Foundation.
 
For more information about the Mikey Czech Foundation please visit www.mikeyczech.org.

On Tuesday, February 17th the Fire Commission presented New Canaan Firefighter Michael Sasser with a letter of commendation.  
The commendation was for the rescue M. Sasser made on the Parkway last week. While off-duty, Sasser came upon a SUV that was on its roof and burning. The unconscious driver was still inside the SUV. Mike and his father Duffy Sasser, with the help of others removed the unconscious driver from the SUV saving from him serious possibly fatal injuries.

 
Fairfield Fire Department Press Release:
 
The Westport and Fairfield Fire Departments responded to a single vehicle car fire involving a rollover and entrapment of the driver. The vehicle was a Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling Northbound on the Merritt Parkway between Exits 42 and 44 in the area of the Redding Road overpass. The vehicle hit a tree, rolled over and started to burn. Two unidentified persons passing by were able to pull the driver from the vehicle as it started to burn. The patient was transferred to American Medical Response Ambulance for transfer to Saint Vincent’s hospital in Bridgeport. The extent of the driver’s injuries are unknown at this time.
 
Fairfield Fire Department had the initial attack line on the fire. Westport Fire Department used fire fighting foam to extinguish the intense blaze. Westport responded with two engines, one Rescue and the Shift Commander’s vehicle. A Department of Transportation sand truck was called to the scene to spread sand on the icy roadway.
 
The Merritt Parkway was closed to all Northbound traffic for approximately one hour.
 
The last Fire Department cleared the scene at 2157 hours.

At 15:35, a first alarm assignment was dispatched to 88 Devonwood Ln for a possible structure fire. Car 3, engine 1 and tanker 8 were on the road within minutes, with 7. Engine 1, under the command of Capt. Petrone arrived to find a 7,000 sq. ft. occupied house, with heavy fire showing from the attic. With the temperatures in the low 20's, the size of the home, and the amount of fire on arrival, Capt. Petrone immediately called for a second alarm, bringing in multiple mutual aid companies to the scene. As engine 1 began to lay a supple line up the driveway, it became stuck at the beginning of the unplowed driveway. Now the crew from engine 1 had to stretch 250 ft. of 2 1/2 inch hose through the front yard in 6 inches of snow just to reach the front door. A gated wye was then put on the end of the 2 1/2. They then stretched 250 ft. of 1 3/4 inch hose and hooked it up to the wye and began to advance into the structure. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack, but about 15 minutes into the fight had to be pulled out because of the roof  starting to fail above them. Everyone was evacuated from the structure and firefighters went to a defensive attack. Water supply was a big issue at this fire due to the closest fire hydrant being almost 2,000 ft. away. Once a good water supply was established crews were able to knock down the heavy fire, with one ladder pipe and multiple hand lines. The fire was declared under control around 22:00 hours.  A rotating crew of firefighters remained on scene until late the next day hitting hot spots and making sure it did not spark back up. A special thanks to all those who came out on a very tough and cold night. Car 3 had Devonwood Lane command.

On Saturday, November 22, at approximatly 4:30pm, mutliple calls were made to 911 about smoke in the area of West Road and West Hills Road. Structure fire was confirmed, crews tried to make entry but due to structural damage were evacuated. The home was determined to be a total loss. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no firefighters were injuered.

Upon arrival, Engine 1, lead by Captain John Raidt, staged in the driveway and confirmed structure fire. Second call was made for additional manpower and mutual aid companies.  

Chief Ed Karl established command and had crews start to breach doors on the first floor of the building. Simultaneously, Captain Raidt and crew made entry through the lower garage entrance to find there was partial collapse of the first floor into the basement. All crews were immediately evacuated from the building.

A tanker shuttle operation, lead by Firefighter Steve Parrett was begun at the end of the common driveway on West Road. Due to the distance between hydrants and lack of water pressure, an additional hose line was laid-in from a hydrant to the scene. Tankers from five mutual aid departments were used in the shuttle operation.

The fire engulfed the entire structure and apparatus was sent to protect near by buildings. Crews worked for hours to extinguish the blaze.

New Canaan Fire would like to send a special thank you to NCPD, NCVAC, the Red Cross, CERT, Wilton Fire, Norwalk Fire, Stamford Fire, Turn-of-River Fire, Vista Fire, Pound Ridge Fire, South Salem Fire and Goldens Bridge Fire for all of their time and hard work.