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News
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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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Fire & Life Safety Education
& Community Outreach Support Unit
The Department recently created a unit to assist in developing
and delivering fire and life safety education programs to the South Windsor
community. If you are interested in learning more about the Fire &
Life Safety Education & Community Outreach Support Unit, or becoming a
volunteer, read the following summary.
Upcoming
Events
Check this page in the future for
information regarding upcoming Department events.
Recent
Events
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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. |
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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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