By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
For the sixth straight year, the city joined West Haven’s three fire departments to celebrate Fire Prevention Week at an exposition of all things fire, emergency management, public safety, police and health at Savin Rock Park on Oct. 3.
Hundreds of people turned out for the West Haven Fire, Emergency Management, 911 ERS, Police & Health Expo, which brought together families and first responders — firefighters, police officers, EMTs, healthcare 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 eve and 104th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, was organized by West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien, West Shore Fire Department Chief Rafael Zayas, City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown Chief Michael R. Terenzio and mayor’s office volunteer Beth Sabo.
West Haven’s storied fire service includes the independent West Haven Fire Department, which serves the 1st Fire Taxation, or Center, District, and the independent West Shore Fire Department, which serves the 2nd Taxation District. It also includes the 3rd Taxation 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 365 years: West Haven since 1888, Allingtown since 1907 and West Shore since 1918.
The free shoreline exposition featured an array of fire engine and firetruck displays, including antique fire apparatus. The colorful fleet was spread along the park grounds of historic Savin Rock and a portion of Captain Thomas Boulevard.
The five-hour expo included marine units and rides in West Haven’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, along with music by DJ Bob DePascale, food trucks and face painting.
It also included educational demonstrations on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, drone technology, home fire sprinklers, and fire code and investigation.
Danny, the West Haven Fire Department’s station and therapy dog, and Sparky the Fire Dog engaged with children.
West Haven Fire Marshal Roger Sicotte, West Shore Fire Marshal Kevin Mullen and West Haven Fire Inspector Lt. Russell LaRiviere demonstrated the departments’ smoke trailer and showed children what to do in case of a fire. Sicotte, Mullen and LaRiviere also displayed information on fire education and prevention.
The largest crowd of the day watched Allingtown Deputy Chief Keith T. Flood demonstrate 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 firefighters demonstrated the Jaws of Life tool by prying open parts of a vehicle to free those trapped inside. The vehicle was provided by Bruneau’s Garage of West Haven.
As part of Allingtown’s Child Safety Car Seat Installation and Inspection Program, firefighters led by Capt. Jason Cameron installed several car seats for people. They also inspected those already installed to ensure that the portable seats were properly fastened for securing small children.
During the car seat installation, Terenzio announced a new collaboration with West Haven’s Elks Lodge, which was represented by House Committee co-Chair Patty Sayers and her daughter, lodge chaplain Heather Sayers. The lodge recently received a $1,700 grant from the Connecticut State Elks Association to purchase new car seats, some of which will benefit Allingtown’s successful program, Patty Sayers said.
Firefighters from the Allingtown Volunteer Fire Association and members of the University of New Haven’s Fire Science Club presented information on programs and showed children, including Jackson Nelson, 5, how to use a fire extinguisher. A short distance away, members of the UNH School of Health Sciences’ Paramedicine Program showed children how to perform hands-only CPR.
Retired West Haven fire Lt. William Heffernan III, the department’s historian, showed his 1920 Ford Model T firetruck, while West Haven fire Capt. Andy Bennett, the chairman of the West Haven Fire Department Historical Library, sold the department’s 125th anniversary merchandise.
Acting Director Rick Fontana and dispatchers of West Haven’s 911 Communications Center educated people on the city’s Emergency Reporting System and handed out coloring books, emergency care kits and other informational materials. ERS dispatchers also showed children how to call 911 using a special 911 phone.
Members of the West Haven police Special Response Team, including Officers Collin Braziel and Antonio Massaro, showed the team’s gear and a BearCat armored vehicle. Sgt. Scott Allard led school resource and training officers in giving out informational materials on public safety, crime prevention and law enforcement programs, as well as promotional items. Animal control officers handed out information on programs and services.
In addition, K-9 demonstrations were held by West Haven police K-9 Sgt. Thomas Marchitto and his police dog, Ado, and by Trooper Kyle Faucher of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and his arson dog, Aruba.
Members of the city Health Department — community health coordinator Andressa Mikita, social worker Alyssa Eckstein, sanitarian Ketia Similien — shared information on mental health, overdose prevention and tobacco cessation, while public health nurse Stacie L. Walsh provided basic health screenings for blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation and body mass index.
To promote the health benefits of journaling, Eckstein gave out “junk” journals to children. Also, people spun the department’s “Wheel of Wellness” for a chance to win a promotional item after answering a mental health question.
The department partnered with Stop & Shop of West Haven, which was represented by pharmacist Scott Silver, to offer flu, COVID-19, RSV and pneumonia vaccinations and partnered with the Connecticut National Guard Counterdrug Task Force to show its “Stashed Away” trailer. Guard members, led by Sgt. 1st Class Sarah Blodgett, showed the mobile trailer and educated people on the dangers of substance use by teaching cultural cues, common hiding spots, signs and symbols.
Fontana, who is also West Haven’s emergency management director, presented information on the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, storm preparation, post-storm recovery, and natural and human-made disasters.
Fontana said the CERT program, which needs volunteers, educates volunteers on disaster preparedness for hazards that could impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
He also signed up residents for the city’s emergency notification system to receive alerts. Sign up at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/alerts.
The Citizen Notification System enables the city to quickly provide residents with critical information in various situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and building or neighborhood evacuations, Fontana said.
The system is operated in partnership with Everbridge Inc. of Burlington, Massachusetts, the world leader in incident notification systems.
Once registered in Everbridge’s protected database, the site will send subscribers time-sensitive messages via cell, home or business phones, email or text messages, hard-of-hearing receiving devices, and more. The notifications are broadcast through West Haven’s Emergency Operations Center.
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