CSFA announces Firefighters Convention Weekend for 2013 – South Windsor, September 20-22, 2013
Annual Meeting, Elections & Parade – Save the Dates!!!
Please make plans to join CSFA for the celebration of the upcoming 130th State Firefighter Convention to be hosted this year by the South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department.
This year’s event also marks the 75th Anniversary of the South Windsor Fire Department. The convention committees from both CSFA and South Windsor are working hard to make this a very special weekend for Fire Service in Connecticut.
CSFA welcomes all Firefighters, families, friends and communities across the state to participate in the festivities and fun!
Please click on the following link for more details and information for the 2013 Connecticut State Firefighter Convention in South Windsor, CT Friday, September 20th through Sunday, September 22nd, 2013.
Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the celebration!
CSFA Online 2013
CSFA Chaplain Emeritus Inducted into Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association congratulates Father Thomas Berberich who has been awarded an induction into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
Fr. Berberich has served CSFA for more than 40 years and our organization is proud to forward the following information originally printed in the Hartford Courant:
Twelve Named to CT Veterans Hall of Fame
Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Dept. of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz have announced the 12 members of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2012. The group was honored at an induction ceremony on Nov. 28 at 4:30 p.m. at the Legislative Office building atrium.
They are:
–Kent resident Rev. Thomas E. Berberich, U.S. Army
– Preston resident Manuel M. Cardoza Jr, U.S. Army
-Gales Ferry resident Paul F. Dillon, U.S. Navy
-Bristol/East Berlin resident Peter Galgano Jr., U.S. Marine Corps
-Meriden resident William G. Godburn, U.S. Army
-Farmington resident Norman Hanenbaum, U.S. Marine Corps
=Milford resident Alan Jepson, U.S. Navy
-North Haven resident Charles R. Morrissey Sr., U.S. Army
-Quaker Hill resident Herbert T. Schacht, U.S. Army
-East Hartford/Glastonbury resident Thomas P. Sheridan (deceased) U.S. Army
-South Windsor resident James H. Throwe, U.S. Army
-Stamford resident Carmine Vaccaro, U. S. Navy
CSFA State Convention Weekend – Annual Meeting, Elections & Parade in North Haven, September 14-16, 2012
Welcome to CSFA Convention 2012, North Haven, CT
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA) invites all Firefighters, families and friends to attend the annual state convention to be held North Haven this year.
Click the following link for more information on the upcoming 2012 CSFA Convention to be held in North Haven Friday, September 14th through Sunday September 16th.
Click the following link to download or view the CSFA 2012 State Convention Guidebook
Thanks and we look forward to seeing you!
CSFA Online 2012
CSFA 2013 Hall of Fame Award Description & Application is now available for download online!
CSFA Hall of Fame Award Description and Application
Please click on the following link to download the application for Hall of Fame Award Nominees:
CSFA Hall of Fame Award Description & Application
CSFA Online 2012
CSFA and Connecticut DEEP Invite All to Attend the Annual Firefighter Memorial Service Sun. Sept. 30th, 2012, 12:30pm, Windsor Locks
Event: The Connecticut State Firefighters Association Memorial Foundation is pleased to extend to you an invitation to attend the 10th Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
When: Sunday, September 30, 2012
Where: Connecticut Fire Academy, 34 Perimeter Road in Windsor Locks beginning at 12:30 P.M
Two Line of Duty Deaths will be memorialized at this year’s ceremony:
Firefighter George Marshall Sanford – Redding Fire & EMS Co. #1 – 4/15/12
Firefighter Patrick J. Brennan – Norwich F.D. – 10/13/30
CSFA Online 2012
CSFA Connecticut 2012 CT House Bill Status Report – Check for Weekly Updates if Legislature is in Session
The Latest CT Legislative News for CSFA:
Please check the following link for Legislative updates and related news for The Connecticut State Firefighters Association:
CSFA 2012 CT House Bill Status Report
The above link is the latest news for CSFA members from the State Capitol in Hartford – from our lobbyist Ted Schroll, Jr.
Connecticut General Assembly 2012 Legislative End of Session Notes
July 1, 2012
- House Bill #6001 was the bill that was initiated in the House. In this lengthy bill there was 2 issues that will have some effect on the fire service. Section #241 of the bill made only minor changes to the E-911 Advisory Committee’s annual reporting procedure. Sections #251-#263 includes many changes to the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Clean-up program. The changes take up several pages and appear to be extensive. I would suggest that you research this language if this program affects your duties.
- Senate Bill #501 was the bill that was initiated in the Senate. There was only one item in this bill that affects the fire service. As part of the property conveyance portion of the bill, the Dept. of Corrections would convey approximately 10 acres of land to the Shaker Pines Fire District #5. The language states that the land is to be used “for firefighting educational and training purposes.” If the parcel of land is not used for that purpose the land parcel shall revert back to the State.
April 30, 2012
April 23, 2012
April 16, 2012
H.B. #5236 was JF’d from Public Safety to the calendar.
April 9, 2012
There is very little to report this week. Because of the way the legislative process works, almost all of the bills that we follow are either in committee waiting to move to the calendar, or are already on the calendar. Two bills worthy of note were passed out of the Finance committee this week. S.B. #25 is the bonding bill that includes $28.2 Million for the Regional Fire Training Schools capital improvement project. The full amount was approved without any opposition. The other bill helps the state, but also benefits the public safety family. S.B. #354 would require a 50 cent fee on each purchase of a prepaid wireless service from a retailer. That fee would be placed within the E-911 fund to supplement the E-911 surcharge.
I have also updated the substitute language for H.B. #5514. Previous language required AED’s in health clubs. The new language from the Public Health committee deletes the requirement in health clubs, but requires AED’s in athletic departments of institutions of higher education.
The General Assembly met in session on Wednesday 3/4, and the result was that H.B. #5094 moved from the Transportation committee to the House calendar, and H.B. #5236 moved from the House calendar to the Public Safety committee.
I am available if there are any questions.
April 2, 2012
The past week started out rather uneventful. Both the House & Senate met in session on Wednesday. During that session H.B. #5094 was moved to the Transportation Committee and H.B. #5247 was moved to the Appropriations Committee. At an Appropriations Committee meeting on Thursday, the committee put forth their answer to the Governor’s budget bill. In their version they restored the 5% cut to the operating budgets for the Regional Fire Training Schools. The Fire School budgets, the CSFA disability account, and the county & state fire radio accounts were maintained at the FY 2012 levels.
The news of the week is in regard to H.B. #5526. I attended a Public Health committee meeting on Monday in which the subject bill was to be favorably moved (JF’d) from the committee. At the last minute the committee put a HOLD on the bill because they said they were waiting for substitute language. They stated that they would be acting on the bill on Thursday. I reached out to a very reliable source for further information. The source came back to me with the substitute language. It would greatly change the content of Section 1 of the bill. The language changed the make-up of the Office of Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board (OEMS A/B) from a 39 member board to a 12 member board. It eliminated the appointees from the CT State Firefighters Association (CSFA) and the Commission on Fire Prevention & Control (CFPC) from membership on the board. It retained the appointee from the CT Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA). Thus I began an attempt to restore the fire service positions before the Public Health Committee meeting on Thursday (3/29). Unfortunately I was unable to accomplish that in the timeframe available. However I was able to bring this deletion of both fire service organizations to the attention of several Public Health committee members, and they expressed their concern, on the record, to the committee leadership. We will be working diligently in the next few weeks to change the language back to include more representation from the fire service.
It would appear that someone “out there” is attempting to limit the voice of the fire service participating in the EMS service. Most of you know that the fire service is performing approximately 70% of the EMS “street work”. We deserve to have a place at the table whenever our activities are being discussed. We don’t deserve to be put in second place. Your assistance is going to be needed to contact your legislators asking them to either change Section 1 of H.B. #5526 to include the CSFA or vote “NO” for the entire bill.
CSFA Online 2012
CSFA takes a look at Firefighter Health: Asbestos, another silent killer
While Firefighters have one of the most heroic and dangerous careers, you might mistakenly think their only concern would be fire.
There are also environmental hazards that affect Firefighters including asbestos exposure. Asbestos materials that are burned can cause fibers to be easily released into the air to be inhaled by Firefighters and other emergency personnel; this inevitably could cause mesothelioma cancer.
Unfortunately, repeated asbestos exposure can lead to this deadly disease which has no cure. To learn more about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos visit www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA)
CT Firefighter Dies Fighting Fire – Redding, CT 4/15/12
Funeral Announcement and Obituary for First Lt. George Marshall Sanford:
http://bethel.patch.com/articles/tribute-announced-for-fire-co-first-lt-marshall-sanford
Additional Information for CT Line of Duty Death Funeral Service:
Wake-Thursday, April 19, 2012 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Bethel Funeral Home 215 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel, CT
Graveside Service-Friday, April 20, 2012 11 a.m. Redding Ridge Cemetery, Black Rock Turnpike (Route 58) in Redding Ridge, CT
Fallen CT Firefighter’s Mother Drove Trucks for FD During WWII:
Statement from CT Governor Dan Malloy on Death of First Lt. George Marshall Sanford:
http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?a=4010&Q=502528
Line of Duty Death of a CT Firefighter and CSFA Member
Chief Ron Van Oostendorp of the Redding Fire & EMS Company No. 1 regrets to announce the line of duty death of longtime fire company First Lieutenant George Marshall Sanford, age 67. First Lieutenant Sanford has been a member of the Redding Fire & EMS Company No. 1 for over 50 years. He was a former Chief of the department, a life member, and was currently serving as the First Lieutenant of Engine No. 1.First Lieutenant Sanford succumbed to unknown medical causes on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at approximately 1831 hours while responding to a fire call in town.
Our condolences and prayers go out to First Lieutenant Sanford’s family in their hour of sorrow. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be forwarded.
CSFA Online 2012
CSFA News – Hall of Fame Dinner 2012 A Success for The Connecticut State Firefighters Association
CSFA Holds Fifth Annual Hall of Fame Dinner
CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner 2012 Honor Guard
A crowd of more than 500 gathered at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville for the 5th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner celebration for the Connecticut State Firefighters Association. The ceremony included appearances by Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and comments from the newest members of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame.
To view a slideshow of more pictures, please click the following link:
Connecticut State Firefighter Association (CSFA) 2012 Hall of Fame Dinner Picture Slideshow
CT Governor Dan Malloy and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal Attend Hall of Fame Dinner
Gov. Malloy with Bill Coffey, Sen. R. Blumenthal and CSFA Pres. Hilbert & V-P. Guthrie
Gov. Malloy with Donald Lewis
The CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner
Class of 2012
CSFA Hall of Fame 2012
Cliff Brammer, Thoamaston
Walter Brocar, New Haven (Deceased)
O’Neill S. Burrows, Watertown
Robert J. Chatfield, Prospect
William Coffey, Danbury
Donald Lewis, West Haven
John Moehring, Stamford
Thomas Murphy, Southington
Gerald Schaffer, Eagleville, Mansfield
William Schietinger, Bridgeport
George Thompson, Eagleville, Mansfield
Clifford Brammer - Class of 2012
O'Neil S. Burrows - Class of 2012
Robert Chatfield - Class of 2012
CSFA Honors the Best of the Bravest – April 11, 2012
William Coffey - Class of 2012
George Thompson, Jr. - Class of 2012
Thomas Murphy - Class of 2012
Gov. Malloy congratulates William Schietinger
John Moehring - Class of 2012
Family accepts for Walter Brocar - Class of 2012
CSFA Appreciates Your Support
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA) proudly thanks everyone who helped to make our Fifth Annual Hall of Dinner a success. CSFA would like to express gratitude for past support from our sponsors and friends of the Fire Service across Connecticut.
We hope to see all of you at our upcoming CSFA Parade and Convention in North Haven later this year. Check this website for updates regularly.
Learn More about the Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA)
For more information on membership in the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, please visit the “About CSFA” page.
For more general information about The Connecticut State Firefighters Association, please visit the CSFA homepage.
To give a donation to the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, please visit the “Support CSFA” page.
CSFA Online 2012
An Appeal for Post-Irene Assistance from Neighboring Firefighters in NY
A Way CSFA Can Help Fellow Firefighters in New York State – Spread the Word!
CSFA - Schoharie Fire Department
The Schoharie Fire Department has asked the Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA) to spread the word across Connecticut about their nationwide drive. These Firefighters lost their station and equipment valued in the millions as a result of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene last year. There is a nationwide drive to help the Schoharie Fire Department rebuild and recover.
CSFA - Schoharie Fire Departement
Download their letter for details:
Schoharie Fire Department Post-Irene Appeal Letter – Spring 2012
CSFA - Schoharie Fire Department
CSFA Online 2012
