Geppetto

City fire protection needs have changed Staff Reports - Don Russell Stamford Advocate 12/10/2008 Volunteerism is an American tradition. It reaches back to the days of what was called barn raising - when people traveled sometimes great distances to help a neighbor erect a barn or a house. One of the most recognized facet of the tradition is volunteer firefighters who dedicate themselves to leaving whatever they are doing when the neighborhood fire whistle sounds and racing to the firehouse or directly to the fire in progress. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/opinion/ci_11182451

Stamford sues volunteer fire marshal By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/09/2008 STAMFORD - The city has sued the volunteer fire marshal at the Turn of River Fire Department, saying the state law empowering marshals does not apply to volunteers, the city attorney said. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11174197

Updated article in Advocate - 12/07/08 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11159944 The thread to the study (above, #425) still works Fire safety should be top priority Staff Reports 12/07/2008 Stamford's not the only community where paid and volunteer fire services are at odds. The situation is common in communities like ours, which have an honored tradition of volunteer firefighting. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/opinion/ci_11159913 ************** has already linked NYT article on another thread; thanks.

Study: Stamford fire service in critical condition By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/05/2008 STAMFORD - A consulting firm hired by the city to study the fire prevention services in Stamford called the current situation among the six fire departments "critical" and recommended city officials declare fire service delivery an "emergency situation." In a draft of the study released Thursday by TriData, a division of System Planning Corp. of Arlington, Va., the fire system in Stamford, in which six independent fire departments share firefighting duties, was said to have reached a boiling point.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11148065 No Kidding? Here is the link to the study - http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-previ...?doc_id=2875643

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812050336

City fire conflict heats up Staff Reports Stamford Advocate 12/04/2008 One Stamford Fire & Rescue fire engine sits in a tent on Vine Road, about a quarter mile east of High Ridge Road, with its 12 firefighters housed in a nearby trailer when they're on duty, awaiting calls. Another engine is parked in a tent on Long Ridge Road, just south of the Merritt Parkway. When on duty, the dozen men stationed at the site take cover in a nearby Stamford Emergency Medical Services building. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11135075

Mt. Vernon reinstates firefighter recruit By Hannan Adely The Journal News December 3, 2008 MOUNT VERNON - A probationary firefighter who was suspended from the county's fire academy a month ago has his job back, but will not return to the county training program. ... http://www.lohud.com/article/20081203/NEWS02/812030370

Springdale firefighters agree to cameras in firehouse By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/02/2008 STAMFORD - Representatives of Springdale Fire Co. and the city told a judge Monday they had reached an agreement on the placement of surveillance cameras in the Hope Street firehouse. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11117494

Camera dispute at Springdale firehouse settled By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 12/01/2008 STAMFORD - Representatives from the Springdale Fire Co. and the city told a judge on Monday they had reached an agreement on the placement and pending installation of several surveillance cameras in the Hope Street firehouse. The agreement ends a dispute that began in January, when the paid firefighters' union filed a grievance about the cameras and also complained to the state labor board. Sixteen union firefighters operate out of the Springdale firehouse, which is run by volunteers. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11113118

Probe of Springdale restaurant fire continues By Martin B. Cassidy Stamford Advocate 11/30/2008 STAMFORD - State and local police as well as fire investigators continue to probe the fast-moving fire a week ago that engulfed the Fireside Restaurant on Hope Street, Fire Chief Robert McGrath said. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11105778

Tension mounts on merger: Volunteer and paid firefighters still battling By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/30/2008 STAMFORD - It's a scene that has played out in volunteer firehouses throughout the country: A small volunteer fire department hires a full-time driver, then a full-time firefighter. As the roster of paid firefighters grows, so does their power and influence. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11105773

Report highlights firefighter missteps 11/26/2008 by CHASE WRIGHT The Stamford Times STAMFORD -- A consultant hired by the city to investigate an Oct. 4 house fire in North Stamford, harshly criticized volunteer firefighters last week for what was described as a lack of leadership that led to the home's demise. ... http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/story/460390 old news, different paper -

Turn of River adjusts to all-volunteer status By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/26/2008 STAMFORD - Brian Docimo has firefighting in his blood - his grandfather, father and brother were volunteers in Stamford. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11077486

Volunteer firefighters say they need more collaboration 11/19/2008 By KARA O'CONNOR The Hour/Stamford Times STAMFORD -- It's not possible to cover all of the city's fire districts without Stamford's paid city firefighters and the volunteer firefighters working alongside each other, say the Long Ridge, Turn of River and Belltown fire chiefs. ... http://www.thehour.com/story/459929 Add this one too - Long Ridge and Stamford Fire reach coverage agreement 11/19/2008 By CHASE WRIGHT The Hour/Stamford Times STAMFORD -- The Stamford Fire Rescue Department and the Long Ridge Volunteer Fire Company have reached an agreement that will provide added coverage for homes in the Long Ridge district. ... http://www.thehour.com/story/459934

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11048247

Report blasts volunteer firefighters By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/21/2008 STAMFORD - A consultant hired by the city to investigate the response to an Oct. 4 house fire in North Stamford criticized volunteer departments Thursday for failing to call for backup sooner and failing to establish a command post. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11039349

Fire marshal: Someone ignited blaze By Devon Lash Stamford Advocate 11/19/2008 STAMFORD - A person started the fire that destroyed an empty Cedar Street warehouse and other South End buildings Sunday, though it is unclear whether the act was deliberate or accidental, a fire marshal said. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11019556

City looks into response to fire in N. Stamford By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/18/2008 STAMFORD - A fire that badly damaged a home on Mill Spring Lane in North Stamford last month has sparked more debate about the roles of paid and volunteer firehouses. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11011146

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11011624

related stories Backup pact renewed with Long Ridge department By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/14/2008 STAMFORD - The Long Ridge volunteer fire department and the paid city department, Stamford Fire & Rescue, have reinstated a longstanding pact to back each other up automatically.... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_10982167 AND Stamford's volunteer chiefs say they need career firefighters By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/14/2008 STAMFORD - At a forum Thursday night, the fire chiefs of Turn of River and Long Ridge volunteer departments said they could not adequately cover their districts, by far the largest in Stamford, without career firefighters. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_10982188

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11000228

Stamford residents to get 5-point boost on police recruit tests By Magdalene Perez Stamford Advocate 11/12/2008 STAMFORD - Stamford residents who apply to become police officers soon will have an advantage over nonresidents. The Board of Representatives voted 30-4 Monday in favor of awarding city residents an additional five points on the written test for police recruits. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_10961281

Forum to debate firefighting's fate By Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate 11/12/2008 STAMFORD - Rachel Lussier wants answers about fire protection in North Stamford. She asked the North Stamford Association to hold a forum to discuss the future of the volunteer departments, which have challenged the city since officials last year called for consolidation between volunteers and the paid fire department, Stamford Fire & Rescue. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_10961269

City hires firm to probe fire response By Jeff Morganteen Staff Writer Stamford Advocate 11/09/2008 STAMFORD - The city's office of public safety, health and welfare has hired a consulting firm to investigate the controversial response to a destructive house fire last month in North Stamford. ... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_10939524

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../NEWS/811080324