Hartford County Hoseline

December 2008 Issue

NEWS FROM AROUND HARTFORD COUNTY

Andrew J. Flanagan Memorial
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 Department 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-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 a effort to carry on with his vision.

2008-2009 Andrew J. Flanagan Scholarship Application can be printed off our website at www.hcfep.org. See Download Application and the deadline to return the application is January 31, 2009.

The Board of Directors of the Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan have found our new Chaplain for the County we are glad to announce to Hartford County and welcome him Rev.Christopher P. Skowronek Hartford County Fire Chaplain.

FROM THE DESK OF THE
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 us know at the Hartford County 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 us know at Hartford County 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 during National Fire Prevention Week. Also if someone is sick or in the hospital so their names can be read off at the board meetings and plan meetings You can e-mail all this information to Chet Haber at chesterhaber@sbcglobal.net or mail all this information to HCFEP PO BOX 447, Plainville, CT. 06062.

NEW CHIEFS AND OFFICERS
IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY

Broad Brook Fire Department

Chief: David Lockwood
Assistant Chief: Thomas Arcari
Deputy Chief: Genald Barcroft

Tunxis Hose Fire Department

Chief: Brain Hunter
Assistant Chief: Rich Higley
Deputy Chief: Travis Cromack

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
SEASONS GREETINGS

As snow, freezing rain and rain has already fell on us that means that 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.")

A HOLIDAY SAFETY TIP FOR ALL

Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.

Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.

Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.

Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Do not overload extension cords.

Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.

Turn off light strings and decorations before leaving or going to bed.

When decorating your tree, always use lights listed by a testing laboratory.

Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and make sure any lit candles in the room are placed well away from tree branches.

Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving plenty of water daily.

If you need more information on holiday safety tips go to www.nfpa.org and visit their website.

RECAP OF 2008 HAPPENINGS!!!!

Going over all my notes and e-mails from January 2008 until now, I am amazed at all the events, benefits, parades and Memorial Service 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 Hartford County alone there were four winners who were recipients of the Andy Flanagan Memorial Scholarship.

Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan Annual Dinner Meeting on June 18th was held at the Farmington Club with a huge turnout of members attending.

Hartford County Fire Emergency 58th Annual Memorial Service on October 5th that was hosted by the Wethersfield 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 19th at the Connecticut Fire Academy.

November 19th How can we forget "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.