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Geoff Herald
Fire Chief
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TJ Wiedl
Deputy Fire Chief
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| Address: |
19 New Street
Danbury, CT 06810 |
| Phone: |
203-796-1550 |
Description
The Danbury Fire Department does much more than put out fires. When people are in trouble they call 911. When you call 911 in Danbury, it is a Firefighter who answers the call. If it is a police matter, the call goes to them. Everything else stays with us. We respond to medical calls, water leaks or flooding, odors, alarms, fallen trees, aircraft crashes, motor vehicle accidents and people trapped under ground, above ground, on roofs and just about anywhere. The Danbury Fire Department truly is the answer to “Who you gonna call?”
The primary focus of the Department is to provide great customer service on every call. Fire suppression is their core mission but not the only thing they do. Whether they are fighting a fire or providing oxygen for a rescued dog, they will provide the best service possible. The Department has responded to calls where automotive gas tanks have fallen out of cars and motorized wheel chair batteries have gone dead. Patients are treated and they make sure their car is safe, even keeping it at headquarters while they are treated at the Hospital. At each call, the Department will assess the situation and help people in whatever way is best for the citizen.
Your Fire Department is highly trained and educated. Department members hold certificates from the National Fire Academy, the State of Connecticut and independent training groups. Many of the members hold college degrees ranging from Associates to Masters Degrees. Firefighters go through a rigorous process to be appointed to the department and then continually attend various educational forums throughout their career. This continuing education is vital to the Department’s mission and is encouraged with support for tuition costs and in house classes.
Successes
There have been a number of significant fire responses this past year. For example, the Airport hangar fire and the one that occurred at Westwood Village in the spring. This fire, though devastating to the four compromised units, illustrates the training and capabilities of the Department. Through rapid actions and aggressive firefighting, only those units affected before the arrival of the suppression teams suffered damage and the other three attached units were protected and saved. The other structures close by were also protected. This fire, in a closely built area could have easily created a conflagration, damaging or destroying many more homes in the complex. The units saved from damage number over 10 exposed units. This is evidence of how the Department saves the City and its’ citizens money and disruption.
Public Education is a cornerstone of the Danbury Fire Departments’ programs. The Department creates a presence throughout the community with citizens’ education programs, such as our Babysitters Program, which is presented in conjunction with Danbury Hospital. This program has completed its 23rd year and has graduated over 2,100 babysitters. The Department has a very active Juvenile Fire Setters’ Intervention Program. Over the past year many juveniles have been successfully involved in the program. Your Fire Department has reached beyond the boundaries of Danbury with this program and they have worked with the surrounding communities to create a safer environment to live and raise your families.
The Department’s Career Division is currently comprised of 118 individuals in 5 locations. Six engine companies and a truck company are fully staffed and manned 24/7. The Department is also a keystone in the States’ regional response plan with a number of resources of the State being housed in Danbury. These resources will respond when called upon by the State manned by Danbury firefighters.
Last year the Fire Department expanded for the first time in over 35 years. The response needs of the west side of the City have grown considerably these past years. The opening of the West Side Station housing Engine 26 has significantly improved the City’s Fire protection. The Mayor, past Chiefs of the Department and the Common Council worked diligently to bring this new Fire House to fruition. This expansion has allowed the Department to meet the needs of the area today, and will in the years to come.
In addition to the career component, your Fire Department is supported by twelve volunteer companies. Without the dedication of these volunteers, the Department would not be able to provide the services it does. The volunteers respond to fires and other emergencies like pumping out flooded basements and assisting with traffic control with specially trained Fire police. These members are unpaid yet give freely of their time to protect our citizens.
As the city grows, the Department will train and educate its members and expand its capabilities. The citizens of Danbury have a Fire Department that is equipped and prepared to fulfill its mission of preserving life and protecting property. Working together, the Department, Career and Volunteer, and the City will meet the growing demands of the coming years.
Danbury Fire Department Administrative Line 203 796 1550