NVFC Membership Update

Membership and support enables the NVFC to represent volunteers like you on a national level and, at the local level, allows us to help you be your best for your community.

Beginning January 2, 2025, there will be a slight increase in the cost of membership. We work to keep our dues as low as possible, but occasionally must adjust rates to continue providing you with outstanding benefits and services.

Renew by January 1, 2025 for $21. Memberships renewed after January 1, 2025 will be billed at the rate of $24 each.

Renew your individual membership

Renew your crew’s individual memberships

Already a member for 2025…

Visit the NVFC Web Site or the NVFC Member Portal

Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Extending Deadline for Volunteer Fire Departments to Apply for Compensation in Response To Recent Fire Weather Conditions

Emergency Declaration Will Be Terminated on Monday, December 2

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that due to the extensive nature of the critical fire weather conditions that Connecticut experienced over the last several weeks, he has signed an executive order (Executive Order No. 24-3) extending the deadline required under state law for volunteer fire departments to submit bills to the state seeking compensation for services rendered during this emergency.

Chick here for the full press release.

Statement from Botsford Fire Rescue on the passing of Assistant Chief Peter Joseph Blomberg

It is with deep sadness that Botsford Fire Rescue announces the passing of our long-time 1st Assistant Fire Chief Peter Joseph Blomberg. Chief Blomberg was en route to the annual Newtown Board of Fire Commissioners meeting in Sandy Hook when he was tragically struck by a vehicle and succumbed to his injuries.

Pete was a lifelong resident of Botsford, graduating from St. Rose of Lima Grammar School and Newtown High School. He apprenticed as a cabinet maker and became an accomplished finish carpenter, a trade he continued practicing throughout his life. Later in his career, he assumed a maintenance position with the Newtown School System, until his retirement a short six weeks ago.

Pete kept the community of Newtown foremost in his thoughts throughout his life, second only to his devoted and loving family, friends, and colleagues. He never said no when there was a call for help – whether it came in the line of duty, or a stranger in need of a helping hand.

He was a beloved father to Lindsey, Lauren, Sara, and Jillian, a devoted grandfather to Everett – the apple of his grandfather’s eye, and was a cherished friend, colleague, and brother firefighter to countless others.

Pete began his career over a half-century ago with the Hawleyville Fire Company, and then at the United Fire Company of Botsford (now, Botsford Fire Rescue), where he rose through the ranks to become First Assistant Chief.

Pete was also a certified State Fire Instructor, participating in many of the regional Firefighter 1 and 2 classes, and served as a certified Station Evaluator at numerous regional evaluation sites. He had a reputation of being very fair when interacting with students who enjoyed the privilege of his instruction and subsequent evaluations.

Until very recently, Pete was among the first responders at fire scenes to strap on an air pack and head into burning buildings. He had a spectacular record of responding to nearly all the calls for service Botsford Fire & Rescue received and was often among those first on the scene at calls in other districts.

Having worked at Newtown Middle School, he was always stationed in a central location permitting him to be available for many calls throughout the community. Even up to a few hours before his death, Pete had responded to two fire calls, including one in Sandy Hook. Pete was a great storyteller, a lover of rock music – having worked concert security for years – a Harley Davidson enthusiast, and he was a devoted friend of Bill W for many decades.

The Botsford Fire & Rescue members want to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Newtown Police, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the members of Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue, Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Co., Dodgingtown Fire Dept, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Bethel EMS, the regional paramedic, Danbury Hospital Emergency Department, and the Connecticut State Police for the roles they played in their response and support.

His family and friends request privacy at this time. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days

Fallen Firefighters Memorial Honors Dinner

The annual fundraiser dinner to support the CT Fallen Firefighters Memorial will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The event begins at 6:00 PM with a cash bar, program starts promptly at 7:00 PM with dinner to follow at 7:30PM.

Guest Speaker: Mike Lombardo MIKE LOMBARDO is a 46-year veteran of the fire service and was the Commissioner/Chief of Department of the Buffalo Fire Department from January 2006 to January 2010. Mike was a member of the development team for the New York State Firefighter Survival and Rapid Intervention programs. He is a two-time Firehouse Magazine Heroism Award recipient (1988 and 1994) and the recipient of the FDIC 1999 Tom Brennan Training Achievement Award. Mike has a BA in Public Safety from Neumann University. In 2015, Mike was a contributor to the NFFF documentary “Giving Courage: LODD Chiefs Speak.” Mike recently completed Near –Miss investigations in Scranton, PA, and Claymont, DE, as well as completing a review of the San Francisco (CA) Fire Department leadership and a safety audit of the Boston (MA) Fire Department. Mike spent 2 years as the North America Emergency Response Coordinator for the DuPont Corp. Mike is a member of the Board of Directors of the Fire Department Training Network, where he presents and developed the Fire Command program. Mike currently operates with the Christiana Fire Department in Delaware and the East Amherst Fire Department in New York.

Tickets are $50 or $500 for table, please return the attached reservation form. The CSFA Memorial is a 501(c)(3) organization. Encourage your friends and colleagues to attend to support this important event!! See the attached dinner event ticket order form.

Firefighter Robert “Sharkey” Sharkevich, Sr. (WVFD, ret. HFD) – Line of Duty Death

Our thoughts are with the the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and Hartford Fire Department as we mourn the tragic loss of Firefighter Robert “Sharkey” Sharkevich, Sr. (ret. HFD).

Wethersfield Firefighter Sharkevich died in the line of duty conducting mutual aid in Berlin, part of the multi-town response to the Lamentation Mountain brush fire.

CSFA Annual Report of Officers – 2024

The attached Annual Report of the Officers of the Connecticut State Firefighter’s Association was adopted at the 141st Annual Convention, September 21, 2024.

2025 (142nd) CSFA Convention – Orange Volunteer Fire Department 100th Anniversary

The Orange Volunteer Fire Association is excited to announce our 100th year anniversary of service to the Town of Orange in 2025. We are in the process of planning various activities and events to celebrate throughout the year 2025.  We were selected to host the 142nd Annual Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s convention as one of the celebration events. The 2025 Convention will be held September 12th and 13th, with a convention parade, YES That’s Right! Convention Parade!, on September 14th. Go to our website https://www.orangevfd.org/2025-state-firefighters-convention/ for more information.

Departments can register online for the parade and make electronic payment on our website. Parade line up will be determined in order of participant’s registration.

The host hotel will be the Courtyard Marriott on Marsh Hill Road in Orange. Guest Rooms and be booked now! Guests can call 1-800-535-4028 and reference the ‘Orange Volunteer Fire Department’ or Group Code OVF. Book your group rate for Orange Volunteer Fire Department 100th Year Celebration!

Cutoff date for reservations is 12AM on Tuesday August 12, 2025. All reservations must be made prior to this date to ensure availability and the group discounted rates.  


Chief Vaughan Dumas
Orange Fire Department

2025 CSFA Hall of Fame Nomination Application

The CSFA Hall of Fame Committee has released their 2025 Hall of Fame Nomination Forms. Forms are held for three (3) years if the nominee is not selected in the first-year submission. All nomination forms must be received no later than November 1, 2024.

Proposed By-Law Changes to be voted at Convention

Please see the proposed By-Law changes, to be voted on at the Convention meeting, Saturday September 21, 2024, West Haven High School, 1 McDonough Plaza, 9 am.

Click here to download the proposed changes

EMT Course offered by Washington Ambulance

Washington Ambulance is offering an Initial EMT Course, Tuesday / Thursday evenings, and Saturdays, July 30 – Nov. 7, 2024.

Contact Washington Ambulance: info@washingtonambulance.org, (860) 868-7913.

Click here to download the Flyer for more information.