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Upcoming
Events
Please visit this page in the future for
announcements of upcoming Department events.
News
and Recent Events
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Roger
Merrill Retires After
52 Years of Service On
March 28, 2010, a
reception was held to honor Firefighter Roger Merrill for his 52
years of service to the Department. Roger joined the Department in
1958 at age 26, and was assigned to Company 1. During his 52 years
with the Department Roger learned to operate many pieces of apparatus,
including the Department's ladder truck. Roger was a vital member
of Company 1's daytime response crew. He was named Firefighter of
the Year in 1970 and was recently voted a Life Member of the Department. Congratulations,
Roger, and thank you for your dedicated service to the Department and the
Town of South Windsor. |
Chief
Crombie Announces Officer Promotions and Assignments
The Board
of Fire Commissioners recently approved Chief
Crombie's recommended promotion of four officers. Lieutenant
Brian Peck was promoted to Deputy Chief. In his new role Deputy
Chief Peck will continue his work with the Department's communications
systems and will be responsible for the Department's finances and updating the Department's operating
procedures. Firefighter John Zahner was promoted to
lieutenant and assigned to Company 6. Firefighter Tim Papp was
promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Training Division.
Firefighter Carlo Piacentini was also promoted to lieutenant. Chief Crombie also announced new
officer assignments. Lieutenant Scott Fine moved from Company 5 to Company 3, where he will be responsible for Engine
3. Lieutenant Mike Giroux moved from Company 3 to
Company 1 and has been assigned to Engine 4. |
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Robin
Pendelton Named 2009 Firefighter of the Year
During the
Department's Annual Dinner, held on February 2, 2010, the
2009 Firefighter of
the Year Award was presented to Firefighter Robin
"Packi" Pendelton. Packi has been an active member of Company
1 for the past 16 years and also serves as a valued member of the Department's Rescue Squad.
Packi is also a member of the Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard and the
Department's Honor Guard. He has coordinated many of the
Department's torchlight parades and assists with the Safety House during
fire prevention programs at the |
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elementary
schools. Each year the Firefighter of
the Year is selected by a unanimous decision of the company
officers. |
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Doug A.
Warren Spirit Award Presented to Firefighter Dave Shea, Jr.
During the Annual Dinner
Captain Tom
Bengtson
presented the Doug A. Warren Spirit Award to Firefighter Dave Shea,
Jr. The award, named for the late Doug Warren, is presented to a
person in the Department who brings the true meaning of community,
camaraderie and pride to the Department and the Town of South
Windsor. For many years Dave has collected money during the
Christmas holiday season and purchased gifts for a family in South
Windsor who is in need. Dave is a senior member of Company 2 and
the Department's Rescue Squad. |
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Chief
(Ret.) William Lanning Receives 2009 President's Award
Also
during the Annual Dinner outgoing President Steve Nodland presented the
2009 President's Award to Chief William Lanning for his many years of
dedicated service to the Department. Chief Lanning joined the
Department in 1962 and has served the Department in several roles over
the past 47 years, including Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief for 19
years, Assistant Chief and Chief for 15 years. Chief Lanning also
served as a fire marshal for the Town of South Windsor for 39 years. |
2009
Events:
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Tom
Bengtson Promoted to Captain
Chief
Crombie announced the promotion of Lieutenant Tom Bengtson to
Captain. In his new role, Tom will coordinate the Department's
apparatus and equipment testing programs, ensuring that the Department's
apparatus and equipment is fit for use and complies with all NFPA and
ISO standards. Tom will also continue in his role as the officer
responsible for Engine 4, which is housed at Fire Headquarters.
Tom has been a member of the Department since 1981, and was a member of
the Explorer Post. Congratulations Tom! |
Commissioner
William Mitchell Honored
On
September 20, 2009, a reception was held to honor Fire Commissioner William Mitchell
for his 45 years of service to the
Department. Commissioner Mitchell first joined the
Department as a firefighter in 1964. In 1971, he
was elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners and he
has served as Chairman of the Board since 1975.
Congratulations Commissioner and thank you for your
contributions to the Department. |
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Department
Breaks Ground on New Station 3 Facility
On
August 25, 2009, the Department broke ground for a new fire/ambulance
facility. The 24,300 square-foot building, to be located at 765
Sullivan Avenue, will replace the original Station
3, built in 1966. In addition, a portion of the building will
house the South Windsor Ambulance Corp., which currently occupies 1,500
square feet of the Police Department. Although voters approved
spending $8.2 million for the facility in 2005, plans to build the
facility on another site were sidelined by the discovery of an
endangered plant
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and other environmental concerns.
According to Town Manager Matthew Galligan, the total cost of the
project is now estimated at $7.2 million to $7.4 million and it is
scheduled to be completed in about 18 months. |
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Firefighter
Douglas A. Warren
Firefighter
Douglas A. Warren, 55, beloved husband of Teresa (Makara) Warren, passed
away peacefully on August 15, 2009 at his home with his family at his
side. He died after a courageous year long battle against brain
cancer. Doug was an active
member of the Fire Department for 26 years. At the age of 16, Doug
began his service in town fire departments. He served in
Bloomfield and Blue Hills Fire Departments for many years before moving
to South Windsor. He was a member of the Bloomfield
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Scuba Diving Rescue
Team. He was an instructor for the Hartford County Fire
School and was an advisor for the South Windsor Fire Explorer Post for
several years. Doug was awarded "Fireman of the Year" in
1989 and was currently in the process of restoring a 1931 fire truck.
Doug was
an integral part of the Fire Department and will be sadly missed by
all. The following link is a tribute to Doug: Memorial.
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Honor Guard Presents
the Colors at Fenway Park
On August 12, 2009, the South Windsor Fire Department Honor Guard
presented the colors at Fenway Park, prior to the start of the game
between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox
went on to defeat the Tigers, 8 to 2. The Honor Guard, which
consists of approximately 12 members of the Department, was formed in
2009 for the purpose of representing the Department at various events,
including parades, funerals, wakes, memorial services, and other
ceremonies where the colors are presented. |
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Walter
Moriarty Honored for 40 Years of Service
On May 3, 2009, a
reception was held to honor Firefighter Walter Moriarty for his 40
years of service to the Department. Walt joined the Department in
September 1968, and was assigned to Company 3. Over the past 40
years, he has consistently been one of the most active firefighters in
the Department. In addition to his service as a firefighter, Walt
has been a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners since February
1999, and is currently in his third five year term. During the
reception Chief Crombie remarked, "After forty years, Walt
continues to set the example for members, both new and old, about how to
be an active, devoted firefighter." Congratulations, Walt, and thank you for your dedicated service to the Department and the
Town of South Windsor. |
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Paul
Soderburg Named 2008 Firefighter of the Year
During the
Department's Annual Dinner, held on February 3, 2009,
Lieutenant Steve Toffolon presented the 2008 Firefighter of
the Year Award to Firefighter Paul Soderburg. Paul
has been a firefighter assigned to Company 2 for over 13
years. In addition to his service as a
firefighter, Paul has contributed over one hundred hours
working on the committee that designed and inspected
Tower 1, and training his fellow firefighters on how to
operate the Tower. He is currently serving on the
committee designing the new Engine 3. Paul has
spent countless hours designing, fabricating and
installing shelves and decals for the Department's fire
apparatus and is always willing to assist. Paul
has been a valued member of the Department's Rescue Squad for many
years. Each year the Firefighter of
the Year is selected by a unanimous decision of the six
company lieutenants. |
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Ray Zaugg Receives 2008 President's Award
During the Annual Dinner outgoing President Tom
Bengtson
presented the 2008 President's Award to
Firefighter Ray Zaugg. Ray has
been dedicated to saluting our Department's history for many years, and
to this day he leads the Department's History Committee. Ray also has honored our deceased members by traveling
all over Hartford County once a year to place memorial flags on their graves.
In 2008, after providing this service for several years, Ray handed the task to one of our newer members. |
2008
Events:
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Tower
1 Delivered
In August 2008, the Department took
delivery of Tower 1, a custom 100-foot
mid-mount aerial platform manufactured by American La France.
Tower 1 carries 300 gallons
of water and has the capacity to pump 2,000 gallons per minute from two
nozzles mounted on the platform. Click on the following link for additional
pictures of Tower 1. |
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Softball
Team Finishes in First Place
The Fire Department's softball team
finished the 2008 regular season in first place, with 12 wins
and 2 losses, in the C Division of the South Windsor Recreation
Department's Adult Softball League. Click on the following links for more
information regarding the team's regular season schedule/scores
and the C Division standings. |
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Officer
Promotions During
their April 2008 meeting the Board of Fire Commissioners
approved Chief Crombie's recommendation to promote two
firefighters to the rank of lieutenant and one
lieutenant to the rank of captain. Firefighter
Mike Giroux was promoted to lieutenant of Engine 3 and
Firefighter Steve Toffolon was promoted to lieutenant of
Rescue 5 and the Rescue Squad. Lieutenant John
Hofmann was promoted to Captain of the Training
Division. Congratulations Mike, Steve and John! |
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Deputy
Chief Papp Retires After 35 Years of Service
Deputy Chief David W. Papp retired from the
Department after 35 years of dedicated service.
Deputy Chief Papp joined the Department in March of 1973
and served in a wide variety of roles during his
tenure. In February of 1981 he was appointed
Lieutenant of Company 2, where he led the Rescue
Squad. In August of 1986 he was promoted to
Captain and assigned to Company 5. He served as a
Captain in the Training Division from 1989 to 1999, and
as Captain of Company 2 from 1999 to 2002. In
2002, he was promoted to Deputy Chief - Human
Resources. Deputy Chief Papp is certified as a
Firefighter I, Airport Firefighter, Instructor I and
Officer I. He also represented South Windsor well
as an Instructor with the Hartford County Fire School
for many years. The Department congratulates
Deputy Chief Papp on his long list of accomplishments
and thanks him for his many years of dedicated service
to the Department and the Town of South Windsor. |
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U.S.
Rep. Larson Presents Tax Abatement Legislation,
Presidential Pen to Department
On March 17, 2008, U.S. Representative John B. Larson
presented the Department with signed tax abatement
legislation and the pen that President Bush used to sign
the bill into law. The legislation, sponsored by
Larson and inspired by former Mayor John Mitchell
(pictured at far left), establishes a new law exempting
municipal property tax abatements offered to volunteer
firefighters from IRS income declarations. In
Connecticut, municipalities may provide tax abatements
of up to $1,000 to taxpayers who serve as volunteer
firefighters or emergency medical responders.
Prior to the passage of the new law, these abatements
were subject to federal income tax. |
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Department
Receives Donation of Pet Oxygen Masks
The Canine Fence Company
& Invisible Fence Brand recently donated pet oxygen
mask kits to the Department. "We hope that by
donating oxygen mask kits that we will continue to save
more pets and hopefully protect pet owners that might
risk their own life to save a pet in a fire," said
Tracy Scarfi, Marketing Manager for The Canine Fence
Company. It is estimated that in 2006 more than
40,000 pets died in fires; most succumbed to smoke
inhalation. In most states emergency responders
are not equipped to treat pets suffering from smoke
inhalation. The donation of these specially
designed and potentially lifesaving pet oxygen mask sets
will enable the firefighters to efficiently administer
oxygen to stricken animals.
Other departments interested
in this program can reach Tracy Scarfi from Canine Fence
at (800) 818-3647, ext. 131, or tscarfi@caninefence.com. |


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Rob
Sullivan Named 2007 Firefighter of the Year
During the
Department's Annual Dinner, held on February 5, 2008,
Lieutenant Dan Katzbek presented the 2007 Firefighter of
the Year Award to Firefighter Rob Sullivan.
Sullivan first joined the Department's Explorer Post
(Company 5) at age 14 and then became a member of
Company 2, where he has served the Department as a
firefighter for the past 11 years. Commenting on
Sullivan's reliability and dedication to the Department,
Lt. Katzbek noted: "If I need something done, he
gets it done." Each year the Firefighter of
the Year is selected by a unanimous decision of the six
company lieutenants. |
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Commissioner
William Mitchell Receives 2007 President's Award
Also during the Annual
Dinner Fire Commissioner William Mitchell received the 2007
President's Award for his many years of service to the
Department. Commissioner Mitchell first joined the
Department as a firefighter in 1964. In 1971, he
was elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners and he
has served as Chairman of the Board since 1975. |
2007 Events:
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Roger
Hildebrand Honored for 40 Years of Service
On November 10,
2007, a surprise reception was held to honor Roger Hildebrand for his 40
years of service to the Department. Over the last four decades,
Roger has served the Department as a firefighter, lieutenant, treasurer,
public information officer, and photographer. Congratulations
Roger and thank you for your dedicated service to the Department and the
Town of South Windsor.
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57th
Annual Hartford County Firefighters Memorial Service
On October 14,
2007, the Windsor Locks Fire Department hosted the 57th
Annual Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan Memorial
Service. The memorial service, which is hosted by
a different Hartford County fire department each year,
honors firefighters in the County who died during the
past year. Firefighters from departments across
Hartford County marched from Windsor Locks Fire
Headquarters to St. Robert Bellarmine Church, where the
service was held. A listing of the deceased
Hartford County firefighters honored at the service may
be found here: 2006
- 2007 Roll Call.
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Softball
Team Wins C Division Championship Series
The Fire Department's softball team
won the C Division Championship Series of the South Windsor Recreation
Department's Adult Softball League on August 20, 2007. The
Department defeated General Digital by a score of 10 to 9 after scoring
5 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. This is the
Department's first Championship Series victory in the team's 15 year
history. The Department finished the regular season in second
place with 10 wins and 4 losses. Click on the following links for more
information regarding the C Division regular season schedule/scores,
standings, and playoff
brackets.
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Second
Annual Paws in the Park
On May 5, 2007,
the Department participated in the Second Annual Paws in
the Park, at the Rotary Pavilion at Nevers Park.
The event, which was coordinated by the South Windsor
Jaycees to benefit the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Inc., included a wide variety of attractions, including
an obstacle course demonstration by Fidelco, search and
rescue demonstrations, and contests for dogs to
participate in throughout the day.
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Operation Triad and the Yellow Dot Program
On May 4, 2007, officers from the Department joined
officers from the Police Department, Attorney General
Richard Blumenthal, town officials and business leaders
at the Community Center for a Kick-Off Celebration for
Operation Triad and the Yellow Dot Program.
Operation Triad is a partnership of senior
citizens, law enforcement agencies, and community
support/protective services agencies working together to reduce
the criminal victimization of older citizens and enhance
the delivery of services to this population. |
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As part of the
Triad program, the Yellow Dot Program helps
facilitate the exchange of medical information to
emergency services in the event of a motor vehicle
accident. A packet containing important
information and a photo identification card for the
operator is kept in the glove compartment. A
Yellow Dot is placed on the vehicle’s rear window to
alert emergency personnel that the operator is a
participant in the program and that information is
available in the vehicle. |
2007
St. Patrick's Day Parade - Hartford
On March 24, 2007, members of the Department
marched with Engine 6 in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hartford.
Engine 6 was draped with a banner honoring our troops and firefighter
Lance Corporal Brian Warren.

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