By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
For the fifth year in a row, 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. 4.
A record crowd 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, 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 eve and 103rd 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 retired city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, who is now a volunteer in Mayor Dorinda Borer’s office.
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 356 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.
The five-hour expo included marine units, a hazmat trailer and rides in West Haven’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, along with live music.
It will also include SkyHealth, Yale New Haven Health’s emergency patient transport helicopter, as well as 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.
Members of West Haven Professional Firefighters Local 1198 collected for their annual charity event benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
On the Savin Rock stage, INITY, a reggae dance band, performed a set of soulful, funky reggae favorites. The concert was sponsored by Surfside Veterans.
West Haven Fire Marshal Roger Sicotte and West Shore Fire Marshal Kevin Mullen demonstrated the departments’ smoke trailer and showed children what to do in case of a fire. Sicotte and Mullen also displayed information on fire education and prevention.
West Haven and West Shore 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 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 over 200 car seats in the past four years.
Representatives from the Coast Guard and other armed forces and members of the University of New Haven’s Fire Science Club and Paramedicine Program presented information on programs. Members of the UNH club also showed children and adults how to use a fire extinguisher.
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 the department’s 125th anniversary merchandise.
Dispatcher Sydney Beaton 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.
Members of the West Haven police Special Response Team showed the department’s BearCat armored vehicle, and Detective Sgt. Jordan Zwickler showed the department’s new crime scene van. Crime prevention Sgt. Scott Allard and school resource and training officers gave out informational materials on public safety, crime prevention and law enforcement programs, along with promotional items. Animal control officers handed out information on programs and services.
Also, K-9 demonstrations were held by West Haven police K-9 Sgt. Thomas Marchitto and his police dog, Ado, and K-9 Officer James Tortora and his police dog, Gamble. They were joined by Trooper Kyle Faucher of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and his arson dog, Aruba.
Renowned UConn Health functional neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Connor accompanied members of the Veterans with Disabilities Task Force to discuss neuromodulation, a therapeutic technique that involves altering the activity of the nervous system to treat various medical conditions, including work-related injuries and illnesses, by delivering electrical or chemical signals to specific nerves or regions of the brain through an implanted device, called Vivistim. The groundbreaking medical treatment helps people, especially veterans and first responders, regain function, independence and dignity.
Connor and task force members were joined by stroke survivor and neuromodulation surgery patient Anthony Pelliccio, a former North Haven volunteer firefighter. Pelliccio had a stroke in 2021 and lost the use of his right arm — and much of his freedom.
Earlier this year, Pelliccio had neuromodulation Vivistim implant surgery, and now he can drive and walk at length again. The successful surgery was performed by Connor, the director of functional and epilepsy neurosurgery at UConn Health’s Department of Neurosurgery in Farmington.
Community health coordinator Andressa Mikita of the West Haven Health Department displayed informational materials on flu season education, vaccines and substance use treatment options. Mikita also passed out CPR masks, fentanyl test strips and naloxone, the opioid-overdose antidote. In addition, people spun the department’s “Wheel of Wellness” for a chance to win a promotional item after answering a question about mental health, diet, exercise, medication safety or the 988 hotline.
Representatives from the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center displayed information on health care services, and representatives from the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, including Allingtown Board of Fire Commissioners Chairwoman Iris Diaz, signed up participants for clinical trial research studies.
Amanda Foertsch, a representative of the West Haven Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, presented information on the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, storm preparation, post-storm recovery, and natural and human-made disasters.
Emergency Management Director Rick 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.
Foertsch 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.