Southport, CT sues Town fo Fairfield

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Connecticut Firefighters Sue To Answer Calls

**As printed on Firehouse.com**

Updated: 10-25-2006 01:53:59 PM

ANDREW BROPHY

Connecticut Post Online (Bridgeport, Connecticut)

FAIRFIELD -- The Southport Volunteer Fire Department, put out of service by the town's Fire Commission last month, is fighting back. Roberto T. Lucheme, the volunteer firefighters' lawyer, filed a lawsuit late last week asking a Bridgeport Superior Court judge to order the town to dispatch the volunteer firefighters on emergency calls.

A hearing is scheduled in court Nov. 6.

Lucheme said Monday that the town, through its Fire Commission, was trying to assert control over the volunteer fire department, which he said was recognized as an independent fire department by the federal government.

Peter Kopko, chief of the Southport Volunteer Fire Department, is smart enough to know which of his volunteers can respond to calls and which can't, Lucheme said.

"To second-guess his judgment is remarkable," he said. "I think what's going on currently is nothing more than a classic power struggle."

The Fire Commission on Sept. 14 refused to allow the Southport volunteers to assist paid firefighters on emergency calls because the volunteers hadn't provided documents that proved they were up-to-date on training and fit to serve.

But Fire Station 4 on Main Street, owned by the volunteer fire department, was never shut down because paid firefighters, and a firetruck used by them, are stationed there around-the-clock, according to Fire Chief Richard Felner.

First Selectman Kenneth Flatto said he was "shocked and very disturbed" by the volunteers' lawsuit and that it was "an indication of a few people in that department who have run amok."

Flatto said fire protection was controlled by the town under state law. "There's one Fairfield Fire Department under the Town Charter. The volunteers' role is to help in ways the town sees fit," he said.

Town Attorney Richard Saxl said the town controls the 911 dispatch system.

The Fire Commission on Oct. 12 also put the Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department out of service, but Felner said Thursday that its chief, Chris Burlant, had turned in the required paperwork on several of Stratfield's volunteers.

Since only two firefighters are needed to man a firetruck, the Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department was put back in service last Thursday, Felner said.

Saxl said Stratfield's volunteers had to meet the same requirements as Southport's volunteers.

Saxl said last week that Southport's volunteers had been slow to turn in paperwork, and Flatto said the town would demonstrate in court that the volunteers had not been adequately trained.

"Unfortunately, the evidence is going to show there are huge gaps and weaknesses in their organization and their training, and it's unfortunate," Flatto said.

But Lucheme questioned why the Southport Volunteer Fire Department had to be put out of service until training records were provided. "You don't just go in there willy-nilly and say, 'We're in charge.' There has to be some kind of better mechanism worked out," Lucheme said. "This is doing it by edict."

Lucheme also questioned whether paid firefighters should have to give documents to the Southport Volunteer Fire Department to prove paid firefighters were up-to-date on training.

Andrew Brophy, who covers Fairfield, can be reached at 330-6255.

[IzzyEng4 427]

Just a note: Southport Volunteer Fire Department and Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfeild are independent fire companies and are officially chartered through the State of Connecticut. Any members that are here from these departments please provide more info.

(I personally know Chief Kopko)