CFD members responded to numerous fire and rescue incidents, performed training and administration activities, and assisted with several community service functions.

During the 2nd Quarter of 2024, the CFD responded to 235 calls (72 in April, 77 in May, and 86 in June). Some notable calls over the past three months included the following:

· April 13th: The CFD responded to a building fire on South Brooksvale Road. The fire was quickly brought under control. Assistance and station coverage received from Prospect and Wolcott.

· April 19th: CFD personnel responded to a tanker truck rollover on an I-691 entrance ramp. The driver was able to self-extricate and a small leak was quickly contained.

· May 17th: The CFD was dispatched to locate a hiker lost in the vicinity of Roaring Brook Falls. With impending nightfall, Firefighters made use of the CFD’s recently acquired UTV to successfully locate the hiker and safely remove them from the park.

· June 1st: A 3-car accident on West Main Street required CFD assistance to extricate one driver from their vehicle.

· June 26th: One driver required extrication after a 2-vehicle accident on Jarvis Street.

· June 30th: CFD crews responded to a car fire on the I-84 EB Exit 26 ramp. The driver had safely existed the vehicle prior to CFD arrival.

A significant portion of the CFD’s calls are associated with motor vehicles on local, State, and Interstate roads/highways. Over the past 10 years, the CFD has averaged over 28 calls per year on Interstates 84 and 691 in Cheshire. This equates to an interstate highway response, on average, once every 13 days.

Annual Cheshire Fire Department officer and administrative elections were held in June. Many existing officers were re-elected for 2023-2024. Dan Ford was re-elected as Deputy Chief; George Donnarumma and Jeff Pechmann were re-elected as Assistant Chiefs; Tom Bremer, Brian Owen, and Dennis Pechmann were re-elected as Captains. A slate of 12 Lieutenants was also elected, along with several administrative offices.

Lieutenant Matt Schmidt has been selected as the 2024 Rotary Firefighter of the Year; he was recognized at a dinner held on June 26th. He believes that becoming a member of the Cheshire Fire Department has provided physical and metal challenges while also allowing him to provide a great public service to the Cheshire community.

The Cheshire Fire Department is always looking for new members to join us in helping the community. More information and an application form are available on the CFD’s website: www.cheshirefd.org/content/join, or email recruiting@cheshirefd.org. Membership eligibility starts at

age 16. A recruitment drive is currently being planned for the second half of 2024 – keep an eye out for us online and at public events around town!

CFD firefighters maintained a regular schedule of important training drills during the past three months. During the months of April-June, training topics included hoisting systems (using newly-acquired rope rescue equipment), ventilation and saws, coordinated fire attack tactics, and hazardous materials training run by members of the CT-DEEP hazmat response team. Many members also participated live burn training events, and several members completed Connecticut Fire Academy certification courses.

The Cheshire Fire Department looks forward to continuing its service to the Cheshire community. Postings about CFD activities and safety information can be found at www.cheshirefd.org, on Facebook (“Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department”), and on Instagram (cheshirect.fd).