Photo by Michael P. Walsh
West Shore Fire Department Fire Marshal Keith T. Flood demonstrates a home fire sprinkler during a live burn at the third annual West Haven Fire, Emergency Management, 911 ERS, Police & Health Expo in Old Grove Park on Oct. 8. The side-by-side burn consisted of two 8-by-8-foot cells, one with a sprinkler and one without. The burn showed the fire’s destruction on a structure without a sprinkler, compared with minimal damage to a structure with a sprinkler. The demonstration was sponsored by the Connecticut Fire Sprinkler Coalition to show the importance of home sprinklers, which can save lives and reduce property damage.
Photo by Michael P. Walsh
West Haven Fire Department firefighters knock down the live burn blaze during the home fire sprinkler demonstration. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Photo by Michael P. Walsh
City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown Capt. Jason Cameron inspects and installs a car seat for Alijah Kosarko, of West Haven, to ensure that it is properly fastened for securing her son, Nicholas, 2, not pictured. The installation was part of the department’s Child Safety Car Seat Installation and Inspection Program. The department has installed more than 100 car seats in the past two years. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Photo by Michael P. Walsh
Lauren Mulinski, a member of the University of New Haven Fire Science Club, helps Bryson Urban, 7, of Orange, spray liquid on a controlled fire to put it out. Looking on are, from left, senior club President Alison Perry and freshman club member Rebecca Van Tine, along with Bryson’s parents, West Haven Fire Department Capt. Jacob Urban and Ivory Urban, and his brother Ashton, 3. Mulinski is a junior majoring in emergency management. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Photo by Michael P. Walsh
Retired West Haven Fire Department Lt. William Heffernan III, the department’s historian, sits in his 1920 Ford Model T firetruck while his son, volunteer William Heffernan IV, sells merchandise commemorating the department’s 125th anniversary, including books, coins, mugs, placemats, pewter Christmas ornaments, and pin and patch sets. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Photo by Michael P. Walsh
Trooper Kyle Faucher of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit kneels with his arson dog, Aruba, after a demonstration. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The city once again joined West Haven’s three fire departments to mark Fire Prevention Week during an exposition of all things fire, emergency management, public safety, police and health in Old Grove Park on Oct. 8.
Rescheduled from a day earlier because of rain, the third annual West Haven Fire, Emergency Management, 911 ERS, Police & Health Expo brought together families and first responders — firefighters, police officers, EMTs, health care professionals — from across the state for hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations to promote public safety education.
The large public exhibition, fittingly held on the first day and 101st anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, was organized by West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien, West Shore Fire Department Chief Stephen Scafariello, City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown Chief Michael R. Terenzio and Expo Committee Chairwoman Beth A. Sabo, the city’s commissioner of human resources.
West Haven’s storied fire service includes the independent West Haven Fire Department, which serves the First Fire Taxation, or Center, District, and the independent West Shore Fire Department, which serves the Shore’s 2nd District. It also includes the 3rd District’s formerly independent Allingtown Fire Department, which was taken over by the city in July 2012 and is now known as the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown.
Collectively, the departments have been in operation for 354 years: West Haven since 1888, Allingtown since 1907 and West Shore since 1918.
The free exposition featured an array of fire engine and firetruck displays, including antique fire apparatus. The colorful fleet was spread along the adjacent Oak and Palace streets and on the grounds of the 153-year-old Grove.
The five-hour expo included West Haven’s marine unit, food trucks and rides in West Haven’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck.
It also included educational demonstrations on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, home fire sprinklers, and fire code and investigation.
Sparky the Fire Dog interacted with children, and singer-songwriter Tony V performed an entertaining set of oldies and singalongs, including Frank Sinatra classics.
West Haven fire Inspector Eric Sobolewski demonstrated the department’s smoke trailer and showed children what to do in case of a fire. Sobolewski and fellow Inspector Russell LaRiviere also displayed information on fire education and prevention.
West Shore Fire Marshal Keith T. Flood demonstrated a home fire sprinkler during a live burn. The side-by-side burn consisted of two 8-by-8-foot cells, one with a sprinkler and one without. The burn showed the fire’s destruction on a structure without a sprinkler, compared with minimal damage to a structure with a sprinkler. The demonstration was sponsored by the Connecticut Fire Sprinkler Coalition to show the importance of home sprinklers, which can save lives and reduce property damage, Flood said.
West Haven and West Shore firefighters also demonstrated the Jaws of Life tool by prying open parts of two vehicles to free those trapped inside. The vehicles were provided by Bruneau’s Garage of West Haven.
As part of Allingtown’s Child Safety Car Seat Installation and Inspection Program, Capt. Jason Cameron and firefighter John Kennedy installed car seats for people. They also inspected those already installed to ensure that the portable seats were properly fastened for securing small children. The department has installed more than 100 car seats in the past two years.
Representatives from the Marine Corps and Coast Guard and members of the University of New Haven’s Fire Science Club presented information on programs. Members of the UNH club also showed children and adults how to use a fire extinguisher.
Members of West Haven Boy Scout Troop 821, the first all-girl Boy Scouts of America troop established in the United States, sold a variety of popcorn for their fundraiser. The troop’s charter sponsor is the Allingtown Fire Department, led by liaison John Ordazzo, a department firefighter since 1999.
Retired West Haven fire Lt. William Heffernan III, the department’s historian, showed his 1920 Ford Model T firetruck while his son, volunteer William Heffernan IV, sold merchandise commemorating the department’s 125th anniversary, including books, coins, mugs, placemats, pewter Christmas ornaments, and pin and patch sets.
Acting Director Katy Ronan Vecellio and dispatcher Rich Standish of the 911 Communications Center at West Haven police headquarters educated people on the city’s Emergency Reporting System and handed out coloring books, emergency care kits and other informational materials.
Trooper Kyle Faucher of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and his arson dog, Aruba, put on a demonstration, and West Haven police officers gave out informational materials on public safety, crime prevention and law enforcement programs, along with coloring books, mugs and key rings.
Public health nurse Stacie L. Walsh of the city Health Department took blood pressures and displayed information on emergency preparedness, healthy eating and stroke education. Walsh also passed out medication sorters and mosquito repellent bands.
Members of Yale School of Medicine’s Pathology Department performed saliva tests to screen for COVID-19.
In conjunction with the expo, West Haven’s legion of veterans groups held “Veterans Bash at the Beach,” rescheduled from two days earlier because of rain.
The five-hour bash, in support of West Haven’s veterans, featured food trucks, live music and nonprofit organizations.
The free event was sponsored by Surfside Veterans, the West Haven Veterans Council, West Haven Vietnam Veterans and the West Haven Veterans Museum.