Geppetto

Stamford police officers honored for fire rescue Stamford Advocate Staff 02/25/2009 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11784647

Three families lose home in Stamford fire 02/24/2009 By CHASE WRIGHT Stamford Times http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/story/465528

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11682029

BET puts King Street station on hold By Neil Vigdor Stamford Advocate 02/24/2009 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11778357

The information superhighway is getting as crowded as I-95.

City to build garages for fire engines Structures planned for TOR district By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 02/16/2009 STAMFORD -- With officials from Turn of River volunteer fire department saying they are nearly out of money and can close within weeks, the city has begun building one of two steel garages to house city fire engines in the district. The city is installing the garages using $131,000 of the $288,000 withheld from Turn of River's budget last summer in a dispute over control of the fire district.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11712911 Busy news day.

Judge wants city, fire volunteers, to settle suit By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 02/16/2009 STAMFORD -- In the trial to decide the future of fire protection in the Turn of River district, a state Superior Court judge Friday suggested the city and volunteer firefighters settle out of court before the trial resumes March 19. Citing a recent study, Judge Kevin Tierney said plaintiffs and defendants generally benefit by settling lawsuits rather than going to trial. With Turn of River operating on 12 percent of its former budget and the city facing its own budget crunch, both sides could come to a resolution, the judge said.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11715198

Volunteers dispute fire study findings By CHASE WRIGHT The Stamford Times 02/04/2009 STAMFORD -- Several volunteer fire departments in Stamford have shot back with arguments against a fire protection study that was completed by an outside consultant last month and was highly critical of the volunteer departments' ability to protect the city under the current structure. ... http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/story/464497

As witnessed by the ongoing struggle in Stamford, unless the purse strings are tugged - and HARD - there isn't any impetus for change. If a city of over a 120,000 hasn't been able to combine it's (6) fire departments, the merging of adjacent munipalities, without a county-level government system in place, seems utopian.

With all the "biased" reporting by the Advocate - today's editorial page reflects (in part) on the recent fire in Long Ridge - Thumbs up - Thumbs down The Advocate 02/03/2009 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/opinion/ci_11611427

One benefit of being an "Exempt" firefighter is access to the Firemen's Home in Hudson. Considering how things are going financially, it may be more important than you think.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11571585

Fire and ice: Firefighters use heaters to keep engine water from freezing Stamford Advocate 01/15/2009 By Jeff Morganteen Staff Writer STAMFORD -- Six months after placing city fire engines at temporary stations on Vine and Long Ridge roads, temperatures are dropping, creating a risk that water flowing from a 750-gallon tank to pumps in the engines could freeze. Stamford Fire & Rescue equipped each temporary station -- basically large tents -- with several heaters to keep the water from turning into ice, expanding and breaking the lines between the tanks and engine pumps, fire officials said. They are confident the heaters will keep the water lines from freezing, they said.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11464524 And a sort of related story - Stamford league regroups around fire department flapLeague of Women Voters to study fire service rift http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11464882

Stamford proposes two ordinances to alter fire operations By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 01/11/2009 STAMFORD - After more than a year of legal contests with volunteer firehouses, the city last week circulated proposed ordinances that would redraw the borders traditionally separating the career fire department and two of the Big Five volunteer firehouses. In a letter sent to public safety and elected officials last week, City Attorney Thomas Cassone wrote two proposed ordinances that would allow the professional city department to take over firefighting at the Belltown and Turn of River firehouses. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11427270

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...9/NEWS/90109004

Firefighters battle more than just blazes during the year By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 01/05/2009 STAMFORD - It was a rocky 2008 for firefighting in the city. Tension and bad bloodbetween volunteer firehouses and the city lingered from a merger proposed in 2007 that would have staffed three volunteer fire departments with city firefighters. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11369980

Fire destroys New Canaan home No injuries reported By Devon Lash Stamford Advocate 12/23/2008 NEW CANAAN - A fire destroyed a multi-million dollar home on Devonwood Lane Tuesday, despite five fire companies' efforts to cart water to the no-hydrant area.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11300666

http://www.lohud.com/article/20081229/NEWS02/812290385

http://www.lohud.com/article/20081219/OPIN.../1015/OPINION01

Police offer reward in Fireside Restaurant arson Staff Reports 12/18/2008 STAMFORD - Police are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in setting the blaze that destroyed the Fireside Restaurant building in Springdale last month. The fire was determined to be arson after a police dog detected combustible material at the scene and an analysis of evidence conducted by the state police crime lab.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11262161

Fireside Restaurant blaze ruled arson By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/17/2008 STAMFORD - A fast-moving, four-alarm blaze that destroyed the Fireside Restaurant on Hope Street last month has been ruled an arson, the assistant fire marshal said.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11255809

Fire volunteers await judge's ruling on fire marshal By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/16/2008 STAMFORD - After hearing a motion to dismiss the case, a judge Monday continued a lawsuit filed by the city against the fire marshal at Turn of River volunteer fire department. Both parties must wait for the court to decide whether the case will be dropped. A judge has 120 days to issue a ruling. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11242214

Fire marshal case goes to court today By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/15/2008 STAMFORD - A judge today will hear a motion to dismiss a lawsuit the city filed against the fire marshal of the volunteer Turn of River Fire Department. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11234907

Belltown volunteers sell Christmas trees to raise funds By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/14/2008 STAMFORD - The cash-strapped Belltown Fire Department, one of two all-volunteer firehouses in litigation with the city, is hoping some Christmas spirit can help offset its reduced budget, Belltown Chief John Didelot said. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11229415

Avoid making fire disputes worse Staff Reports Stamford Advocate 12/12/2008 The city should drop its lawsuit against the volunteer fire marshal at the Turn of River Fire Department, regardless of what courts decide, perhaps as early as next week. The complaint - to use a lame fire analogy - is stoking flames at a time when players on all sides should be working to put them out. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/opinion/ci_11202724