How many incidents will it take before Mayor Pavia realizes his plan to create a separate volunteer fire department with limited paid staff in Stamford is just plain wrong! Over the last several weeks there have been numerous incidents in the volunteer districts that clearly illustrate the problems with membership in the volunteer system in Stamford. The fact of the matter is that the volunteer departments are no longer functioning as full Fire Departments. They don’t have the membership for it. A Fire Department constitutes more than just a handful of people showing up at sometime during an incident. Unfortunately for North Stamford residents, that is all they are getting right now. It makes no sense to give the residents of North Stamford less protection, just so the volunteers can maintain their autonomy. The Mayor’s plan to give the volunteers full control over North Stamford Fire Protection and Rescue Services is a BIG mistake. Here are a few examples that clearly illustrate the problem.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 3:28 in the Afternoon
Today at 3:28 in the afternoon, Turn of River Fire Department (TORFD), Belltown Fire Department (BFD) and several units from the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department (SFRD) were dispatched to to Pamlynn Drive for smoke in the house. The occupant called 911 and reported that she sees smoke and hears the fire alarm sounding. SFRD Engine 8 was first to arrive at 15:32, just 4 minutes after dispatch. They quickly determined that there was a working fire inside the basement of the structure. Thankfully, the fire was quickly extinguished by the crew of SFRD Engine 8 using a hand line, but additional work needed to be performed to make sure the fire had not extended to the floors above. There were no TORFD volunteers there to help.

Here is a summary of the units that responded.
15:28 – All units were dispatched
15:32 – SFRD Engine 8 On The Scene
15:34 – Belltown Truck 45 Responding
15:35 – SFRD Engine 7 On The Scene
15:37 – Belltown Truck 45 On The Scene
15:38 – SFRD Truck 1 On The Scene
15:40 – SFRD Engine 6 On The Scene
15:50 – TORFD Tanker 68 Responding
15:53 – TORFD Tanker 68 On The Scene

It wasn’t until 25 minutes after the initial dispatch that Turn of River arrived with their first firefighting unit. And it was a tanker… Why? Nobody really knows since there were several working hydrants within a short distance of the residence. An Engine would be more appropriate. The real issue is that once again, the Turn of River Fire Department failed to provide adequate person power to participate in an aggressive structural fire attack. If were not for the quick actions of the SFRD, the fire could have quickly evolved into a fully involved structure fire. Only one TORFD member was later seen at the incident wearing a full set of turnout gear that would be required to enter the structure.

Where are all the volunteers that have have promised?

Monday, July 19, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Yesterday, Turn of River Fire Department, Belltown Fire Department and several units from the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department were dispatched to Lancer Lane for a report of lightning striking a house and setting the roof on fire. SFRD Engine 8 was first to arrive on the scene at 9:22 and reported smoke showing from the back of the house. The SFRD crew quickly found the fire at the back of the house. It was rapidly moving up into the attic area. They extinguished the fire, checked for extension and even performed some overhaul before the ONLY unit for TORFD arrived with less than a handful of firefighters.

The TORFD is supposed to operate as a Department. Arriving on the scene with just a handful of people with one apparatus hardly constitutes a fire department. Again… where are all the volunteers?

Saturday, July 10 at 12:09 PM
Again, Turn of River Fire Department, Belltown Fire Department and several units from the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department responded to a report of a structure fire on Skyview Drive in the TORFD Fire District.  SFRD Engine 9 was first to arrive on the scene just 6 minutes after dispatch and determined that there was fire in the walls of the residence.  TORFD Rescue 66 arrived on the scene a little later with just two firefighters on board.  Why they choose to respond their Rescue Truck instead of a pumper to a structure fire makes little sense to the experienced Fire Officer.  Could it be that they don’t have enough qualified drivers for their pumpers?

TORFD needs to adhere to a predefined response assignment.  How can any incident Commander run a scene efficiently when they don’t know what kind of apparatus is going to respond to a call, or whether they are going to respond at all.  One Rescue, two people plus maybe a Chief who showed up in his own car just does not equate to an adequate and/or predicable response by a volunteer Fire Department to a structure fire.

Saturday, July 2, 2010 at 5:46 AM
This example clearly provides us with an example of “Picking & Choosing”. On July 2nd at 05:46 AM, a van rolled over into the A&P parking lot on High Ridge Road, injuring two people. Those familiar with the area will realize that this incident is within sight of TORFD Station #1. In this incident, there was NO response by the TORFD at all.

Where were they while SFRD Engine 8 responded from their trailer down the street. Where were they while Rescue 1 responded from Washington Blvd? It was 5:46 on a Saturday morning! You draw your own conclusions.

Summary
Enough is enough. These were all REAL emergencies and illustrate only a small sampling of the problem.  So many more less urgent calls go unanswered by Stamford Volunteers every day.  We call on Mayor Pavia to withdraw his plan and work for a one department solution for citywide fire services. This plan can include the volunteers, but needs to recognize their limitations.

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