Hartford County Hoseline

NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY

Andrew J. Flanagan Memorial Scholarship
The Flanagan Scholarship for Active Firefighters

This Scholarship program was established in 1974 by the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, and the Connecticut Fire Departments Instructors Association to honor the memory of Andrew J. Flanagan.

Andy Flanagan was for many years the Training Officer for the New Haven Fire Department, as well as the Treasurer of the Connecticut State Fireman’s Association. Following his retirement from the department as a Battalion Chief, he was appointed the first full time Director of Fire Training for the State of Connecticut. He held this position until his death in 1972.

Andy was a strong proponent of continuing education for firefighters and was instrumental in establishing the Connecticut Technical College Fire Technology Associate Degree Program. These Scholarship awards are granted in an effort to carry on with his vision.

2006-2007 Andrew J. Flanagan Scholarship Application can be printed off our website at www.hcfep.org and the deadline to return the application is January 15, 2007.

Wondering when was the last time you visited our website at www.hcfep.org. New information is always being added, and with a little bit of your own curiosity you can keep exploring other sites for interesting news and tidbits. Example go to the home page and you will find the new Guidelines for Cadets/Explores/Junior Firefighters.

FARMINGTON FIRE CADETS

Sponsoring their annual Pasta Dinner

On Saturday December 9, 2006 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm the Town of Farmington Fire Cadets will be sponsoring their annual Pasta Dinner at Tunxis Hose Fire Station 11 School Street, Unionville, CT.

Prices are:

Adults - $6.00
Seniors - $5.00
Children under 12 - $4.00

To all the county members and your families come out and support the Farmington Fire Cadets.

The Board of Directors would like to ask all County Fire Chiefs to take the time to speak to their Fire Chaplain to see if they would be interested in becoming the Hartford County Fire Chaplain. One of their focuses would be to work with the other Fire Chaplains in the County in hosting the Annual Hartford County Memorial Service which is held in October. If anyone is interested and needs more information on this position please contact me,

John Coelho by e-mail johnsechcfep@yahoo.com fax number 860 747-2137 or by dropping a line to P.O. Box 447 Plainville, CT. 06062

FROM THE DESK OF
SECRETARY JOHN COELHO

To all County Chiefs, Training Officers and House Captains, if there are any changes or information about your department that needs sharing, please let me know ASAP, so that I can include it in the next print of the Hoseline. If there has been a line of Duty Death, a department member has answered his or her last alarm, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can make sure that their name is added to the list and not forgotten at the Annual Hartford County Memorial Service which is held in October during National Fire Prevention Week. Also if someone is sick or in the hospital please forward me their names so it can be read off at the board meetings and plan meetings. You can e-mail me at johnsechcfep@yahoo.com or mail the information to me at PO Box 447, Plainville, CT. 06062 or you can fax me at 860 747-2137 or call me on my cell phone 860 573-5641.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
SEASONS GREETINGS

As snowflakes will be falling pretty soon and the holiday season is just around the corner, the Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan Board of Directors, instructors and clerks would like to take out of this busy time of the year to wish you and your family a “Merry Christmas’,(Buon Natale, Joyeaux Noel, Wesolych Swiat, Feliz Navidad,) and a healthy and joyous “Happy New Year.”

RECAP OF 2006 HAPPENINGS!!!!!!

Going over all my notes and e-mails from January 2006 until now, I am amazed at all the events, benefits, parades and Memorial Services that were held this past year in Hartford County. I wish I could recap all events, but that would definitely take pages to do, so I chose to list a few.

Congratulations are in order to everyone from the Hartford County alone there were five winners who were recipients of the Andy Flanagan MemorialScholarship.

Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan Annual Dinner Meeting on June 21 was held at the Farmington Club with a huge turnout of members attending.

Hartford County Fire Emergency 56th Annual Memorial Service on October 1 that was hosted by the North Thompsonville Fire Department was a huge success because of your participation and support at this event.

The Connecticut State Fallen Firefighter Memorial was held on October 15th at the CT. Fire Academy.

November 15th How can we forget The HCFEP” Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Meeting” which was hosted by the Avon Fire Department Company One and Chief Jamie DePace. Not to overlook the fact, that Harvey and his crew did an outstanding job in preparing all the delicious food that was served. I’m sure that no one went home hungry that night I know that I didn’t. Thanks to all.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

To Our Fireman & FireWomen

Twas the night before Christmas and all through thetown, the fire siren echoed blaring its sound. The firefighters came running from far and from near, and raced to the trucks quickly donning their gear.

And I in my bunkers my boots and my hat, jumped to the engine to see where the fire’s at. Down at the corner of Fifth and of Oak, the dispatcher informed us of a house filled with smoke.

Smoke poured from the sides, from up and from down, yet up on the roof there was none to be found. So up to the rooftop we raised up a ladder, and climbed to the top to see what was the matter.

I came to the chimney and what did I see, but a fellow in red stuck past his knees. Well we tugged and we pulled until he came out, then he winked with his eyes and said with a shout.

“These darn newfangled chimneys they make them too small, for a fellow as I, not skinny at all.” With a twitch of his nose he dashed to his sleigh, and called to his reindeer, AWAY now AWAY.”

As we rolled up our hoses he flew out of sight, saying “God bless our firefighters” and to all a good night.