Milford Fire Department Offers Holiday Shopping Advice

Need something for the person who you think has everything, or the people who are impossible to buy for every year? These ideas are not expensive, but can provide the precious gift of peace of mind. The other great thing is they are gifts that keep on giving long after the person receives them.

These suggested gift ideas come from the National Fire Protection Association and are endorsed by the Milford Fire Department.

· Carbon monoxide detectors, these alert loved ones in the event that the silent killer carbon monoxide is present. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed when fuels don’t burn completely. Fuels include natural gas, propane, oil and burning equipment. Although not a fire safety device, it does protect the home where smoke detectors do not.

· Smoke detectors, one of the best fire safety items for the home. Seventy percent of all deaths occurring in homes happen in residences that either do not have smoke detectors are they are not in working order. Consider a smoke detector for everyone on your list this holiday season. Most detectors have a ten year life cycle and many in our area have exceeded this time period and maybe ought to be replaced. For special needs individuals who are hard of hearing or hearing impaired some units now come equipped with strobe lights, high decibels are vibrate when they go into alarm.

· The old standby “flashlight”, these prevent fire when used during power outages instead of candles.

· If you are or someone you know uses candles, help prevent tip over’s when they are lit with a set of sturdy candle holders. Even better the lantern style candle holder can reduce the likelihood of something coming into contact with the flame of the candle.

· For the person on your list who owns a fireplace, a secure fireplace screen which keeps embers from getting into the room. A box of long fireplace matches help prevent burns when igniting fuels.

· What about a gift certificate for a cleanup service to come in and remove clutter that might be fire prone from basements, attics or yards. If that special person owns a fire place or wood stove maybe a gift certificate for a chimney cleaning to prevent creosote buildup that is a major cause of chimney fires.

· On the more personal side, a bathrobe with tight fitting sleeves, that won’t touch stove burners while cooking. Or how about a down or synthetic comforter, flannel sheets or pajamas, these will keep your loved one warm and decrease the need for space or portable heaters, especially at night. In two-thirds of fire deaths blamed on home heating device the space heater (fixed or portable) were the cause.

· Another item is fireproof oven mitts for both the stove and the barbecue. If someone you know smokes how about a large, deep, non tip ashtray, these help prevent smoking material from igniting nearby combustible items.

· A portable fire extinguisher with instructions on its use in case the unspeakable happens, generally a multi-purpose dry chemical type is recommended.

· Large house numbers to assist fire, police and EMS to locate a home quickly during an emergency, especially at night.

· Batteries for the smoke detector or flashlight can make great stocking stuffers.

These items may not be at the top of everyone’s wish list, definitely not exciting, but can have a high reward factor if they save a life or prevent someone from getting injured.

Unfortunately, some eye opening facts regarding the holiday season and safety.

- December, January and February are the deadliest months for fires.
- The top 10 days for home fires in recent years were between December 24 and January 6.
- Cooking and heating fires are the leading causes of home fires in the months of December through February
- Candle fires have nearly tripled in the past decade. Nearly twice as many home candle fires occur in December than any other month, perhaps because of the holiday decorations and seasonal celebrations.

We wish you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season!

Dispatchers Honored at Fire Department Awards

The Milford Fire Department honored various members of the department and community during the annual awards ceremony that was held at Milford City Hall on Tuesday November 30.  Dispatcher David Dixon and Dispatcher Thomas Rak were awarded the Dispatcher's Metal of Merit in recognition for their handling of communications during a large multi-building structure fire in the area of 38 Laurel Ave on April 28, 2010. 



Dispatcher David Dixon salutes Chief
Louis LaVecchia after receiving the
Dispatcher's Metal of Merit



Dispatchers Dixon & Rak with Chief LaVecchia

Captain Christopher Zak, master of ceremonies for the awards, stated that during this incident "Radio traffic was heavy; instructions were relayed, the Fire Ground frequency was monitored for firefighter safety, and notifications were made all with calm professionalism. When all was said and done, Dispatchers Dixon and Rak fielded over twenty (20) 911 calls from excited and hysterical people for this one incident alone. They got 12 pieces of apparatus from three towns to the scene; along with numerous command vehicles, and representatives from the UI, Gas Company, Red Cross, American Medical Response, the Milford Police Department, Building Department and the Fire Marshall’s Office. They also arranged for firefighter rehabilitation with the Special Services unit. For handling this highly stressful incident in an exceptional manner, Dispatchers Dixon and Rak are awarded the Dispatcher's Medal of Merit."


Also during the event, Dispatcher Gina Corso was sworn in as a dispatcher of the department, having passed her one year probationary period.

Several community members were recognized during the event including 5 year old Jimmy Cobain who was honored for playing a key role in summoning help when someone was injured on a skateboard.  8 year old Aidan Conway who called 911 to report that his mother had fainted and he was unable to wake her up.  Robert Loftus and Bryann Woodmansee were also recognized for their assistance in helping a moped driver who's clothes caught fire after a mishap with his moped.

Several firefighters from Milford and some from surrounding towns such as Stratford and West Haven were awarded unit citations for responses to calls throughout the year including units that responded to a large structure fire on Laurel Ave, a large structure fire on Edgefield Ave and a horse rescue on West River St.

Members of the Fire Marshalls division, Fire Marshall Assistant Chief Alan Zingaro, Senior Fire Inspector Andrew Vargo, Fire Inspector Anthony Fino and Fire Inspector Paul Geer were given an administrative award for all of their efforts in improving the Fire Marshall's division and improving fire safety in the City of Milford.

The Milford Fire Department Special Service Unit ("The Dinosaurs") was honored for all their assistance to the City of Milford Fire Department and several surrounding towns through out the year. 

Firefighter Jason Hall was presented with the Community Service Award for his work with the Connecticut Burns Foundation through the years.

Members were also recognized for heroic actions over the past year, including a very dangerous extrication from an overturned tractor trailer that had live wires downed on it.  Firefighter Jason Bocchetta, FF James DeVico, FF Eric Mohr, FF Jose Colon, Lieutenant Michael Donegan and Captain Christopher Zak were awarded the Metal of Bravery, the department's second highest honor, for their actions during this incident, where they placed their lives in harms way and ultimately saved the life of the individual trapped in the accident. FF Michael Ryan, FF Thomas Piskura, FF Michael Wydra, FF Stephen Mantie, FF Eric Theriault, Battalion Chief Patrick Hayden also received the Meritorious Service Award for this incient and FF Lawerence Hoyt, Asst. Supt of Apparatus (then FF) Joseph Widman received Letters of Commendation.

The Meritorious Service Award was bestowed upon Lieutenant Clinton LaPlant, Firefighter Paul Buda, FF Carlos Rios, FF Peter Phelan for an exemplary performance of duty and a letter of commendation was awarded to FF Tim Geer, FF Karl Hofmeister and Captain Ronald Wetmore for their actions rescuing a despondent person from Long Island Sound off the coast of Hillside Ave.

The Meritorious Service Award was also awarded to FF Patrick Nolan, FF Jeffery Hilliard, FF Christopher Brown, Captain Russell Chapman, and Captain Christopher Zak and letters of commendation were award to FF Scott Moran, FF Layne Manginelli, FF Frank Geer and FF Tom Piskura for their actions while assisting the Bridgeport fire department with a room and contents fire in a high rise building on Park Ave.

The department also swore in new firefighters Paul Buda, Zachary Daniel, Jason Bocchetta, Brandon Edo, Ramon Pons IV, David Tobias, and Justin Edo who have successfully passed their probationary period. 

In addition, the following members were promoted, Lieutenant Michael Donegan, Lieutenant Stephen Rabel, Lieutenant Martin Halprin, Captain Russell Chapman, Captain Ronald Wetmore, Captain Anthony Fabrizi, Assistant Superintendent of Apparatus Joe Widman, Assistant Chief Robert Healey, Battalion Chief Bernard Begley, Battalion Chief Daniel DelVecchio, Superintendant of Apparatus Dave Eisenhandler