Hurt in Springfield Blaze

In this issue...

7 Houses Damaged, 4 Hurt in Springfield Blaze

Springfield (MA) firefighters were called to Mansfield Street on September 19, 2020, for a structure fire. See story on page 6

Ellington Barn Fire On August 2, 2020, Ellington (CT) Fire was dispatched for a barn fire on Job Hill Road. See story on page 7

Kingston 2-Alarmer

Kingston (MA) Fire responded to a fire in a 2-1/2 story colonial recently.

See story on page 12

Horse Rescued in Hanson

On September 1, 2020, the Hanson (CT) Fire Department responded to Burrage Pond WMAfor a report of a horse stuck in the mud. See story on page 19

Training Done: 54 New Firefighters Ready On August 21, 2020, the Boston Fire Drill Class graduated 54 new firefighters who went through five months of training. See story on page 23

Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial 2020

This year was a virtual ceremony that was broadcast on September 11, 2020.

See story on page 26

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Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 21-22 Up Close &Personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 28 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 30 Special Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 31 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 31 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 31 AService for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Firefighters and EMS Providers Founded 1973 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY11713 FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher TIM EDWARDS, Executive Editor DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor GARYP. JOYCE, Asst. Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production/Sales CLIFFCHIESA, Art Director/Production Manager Advertising Sales: BARBARACONNOLLY, Graphic Artists: GREG JONES, LYNN SEDLER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ALAN BRACKETT, AMANDACARMODY, THOMAS CARMODY, OWEN CARRIGAN, KEVIN CZARZASTY, JOHN DEFOREST, PATRICK DOOLEY, DOUG DOW, OLIVIADRAKE, GLENN DUDA, LIZ FEITELBERG, JIM FORTIN, JR., ED HARVEY, JEFFREYHASTINGS, STEPHEN HESS, MIKE IPPOLITO, DORRANCE “DOC” JOHNSON, RICK KULMANN, KEN LABELLE, ROBERTLADD, MICHAELLAPRADE, SCOTTLAPRADE, PAULLAROCHELLE, JR., KEN LEGER, KEITH MURATORI, BOB MYERS, RICK NOHL, BILLNOONAN, PETER OSTROSKEYJR., CHRIS PALMER, JIM PERUTA, GLENN PRESTON, ROB REARDON, PAULSHEA, JOE SHEFER, JON TENCA, PATTRAVERS, DEVON WHALEN, KEVIN WHITE COPYRIGHT2020, THE FIRE NEWS INC., LONG ISLAND, NEWYORK. ALLRIGHTS RESERVED For advertising rates and information, call (631) 776-0500 Press 3 Editorial: (631) 776-0500 Ext 281 Fax number: (631) 286-6866 Internet: http://www.firenews.com e-mail: tim@firenews.com Eight Editions Serving Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Virginia

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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor Has YourDepartment Adapted?

As we enter November, I ask, have you and your department adapted to working with the rules that deal with Covid-19? By now, all of us realize that this disease turned out to be a very serious disease and from the onset, the fire-rescue and emergency services worked hard to set up guidelines that protect you, the first responder. At the onset of the new rules and procedures, most of you wore your mask, used the hand sanitizer that was placed in numerous locations throughout the firehouse and kept your distance between one another.

Recently, I noticed that many are not keeping their distance from one another, and many of you are not donning your facemask when you enter the firehouse. I know your immediate concerns are not to stop and put a mask on when you are running to don your gear and hopping on the truck to get to a call. However, it is important that after you get on the truck in a confined space that you give thought to wearing your facemask. If you have a call where you are going to work, your SCBAwill take the place of the surgical mask. But, what should you do when you leave the building and remove your SCBA? Please, reach into your pocket or see your EMS responders to get a surgical mask. I know, you are thinking I’ve lost my mind, but when you are standing shoulder-to-shoulder outside of the fire building, you should don your cloth or surgical facemask.

My department held a meeting recently in the truck bay. We kept our distance from one another and wore our surgical masks. Everyone from the chiefs to the probationary members, wore their masks. When the meeting was over, everyone washed up or used hand sanitizer and went home. Let’s face facts. When large groups get together, it is a scenario for the spread of Covid-19. Look at what has happened in certain areas of NYC. In my area, a catering hall was heavily fined when 37 people left the party with Covid-19; 28 children and nine adults tested positive for it. As a result of this incident, 300 people were placed under quarantine and eight schools had positive Covid-19 cases.

My point is that it is easy to catch this disease and it probably is just as easy to prevent exposure by wearing your mask, keeping your distance from people and washing your hands as soon as possible.

All departments must maintain their training schedule and drills. Officers, if you are going to hold a drill, before the drill starts, remind your members of the protocols that they must follow to be safe from contracting Covid-19. Safety officers —remind your members when you see them standing around discussing the drill to don their masks.

This is November. It is a month to give thanks for all that we have. Your family and friends mean a lot to you. Let’s make sure that we all remain healthy so that we can celebrate Thanksgiving together in a creative, safe way. Yes, this holiday will be different, but the meaning will be the same. Happy Thanksgiving to all! -Dennis

Thanks to All OurFirst Responders

By Gary P. Joyce

According to The US Fire Administration, there are 1,115,000 firefighters in the US — 370,000 career and 745,000 volunteers. In 2011 the National EMS Assessment reported a total of 826,000 licensed and credentialed — paid and volunteer — EMS practitioners in the US. The National Law Enforcement National Memorial Fund estimates there are over 800,000 police in the US, and the estimate of nurses in the US — of all levels of training — is 2.86 million.

The commonality? All of these men and women fall under the heading of first responders. But the title “first responder” has taken on a more ominous meaning now than ever before because of the ongoing Covid pandemic.

It is far too early in the progression of this pandemic to know how many of your brethren have contracted the disease while in the course of doing their jobs, nor to understand the mortality rate among your professions. But we know the virus is there, and we know the ramifications grow with each call answered, each day that passes and each patient treated.

We here at Fire News want you to know that we laud you for your devotion to duty under what can only be considered even more extreme circumstances than you normally face. And all of you go about this in a very matter of fact way. “It’s my job,” seems to sum up most of your attitudes, and while it is a simplistic answer to a serious question it seems to reflect how all first responders go about their jobs — quietly, efficiently, with little acknowledgement aside from a job well done.

We thank you for your continued dedication, and we at Fire News wish you all the best in health as you continue along this thin line of providing for the public while maintaining your own safety.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was once quoted as saying “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”

You, the first responders, epitomize the answer to Dr. King’s question.

You give your all for others and we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to you for your service and all you do.