www.WashingtonCT.org The Town of Washington, Connecticut Washington Volunteer Fire Department

Emergency: 911 Or, if 911 fails, 860-868-7300 Telephone: • Washington Depot 860-868-7403 • New Preston 860-868-7831 Fax: 860-868-0621 Fire Marshal: 860-567-7617 860-348-2386 to leave voice messages 1-800-348-2386 U.S. Mail Address: Washington Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 244 Washington Depot, CT 06794 Street Address: Washington Volunteer Fire Department 109 Bee Brook Road Washington Depot, CT 06794 Fire Chief: Mark Showalter 1st Assistant: Darryl Wright 2nd Assistant: Brian Ohman Captain: Mike Difronzo 1st Lieutenant: George Steiner 2nd Lieutenant: Caleb Shropshire Web Site: http://www.washingtonvolfire.com

The year 2009 has been a good year so far for fire loss. The structure fires that we have had resulted in minor damage. The number of motor vehicle accidents has unfortunately increased. The following is the numbers of calls there have been thru September 2009:

Structure	Co	MVA	Chimney	Brush	Auto	Car	EMS/rescue	Wires	Mutual
	Hazmat				alarm	fire	assist	down	aid
3	14	24	4	5	77	2	21	16	6

We have also had a steady increase in automatic fire alarms. Many of these alarms occur at homes that are very large and are not occupied year round. When we are dispatched to your home or business the only way to make sure there is not a problem is to walk through the building. Many times there is no one that meets us there that has a key to let us in. There are a few things that can be done to help. You can have someone that lives locally that can be your key holder. If you have someone already, that information needs to be on file with your alarm company. This information will be given to us so we know that someone will respond. If we do not have anyone that is going to respond it is our obligation to get into the building to check it. The Fire Department has been doing some research on a system that is used nation wide. The system is called a Knox Box system. It is a secure rapid entry system that is used by many other fire departments that actually has the key at the building and the fire department can access it. You can contact the fire department for more information. There is also a town ordinance that refers to fire alarms. It is to try to help prevent the fire department from being dispatched to alarms where there are systems that are in need of maintenance. Your systems should be checked by a professional regularly.

As always fire prevention is the key to staying safe. If your furnaces, fireplaces and wood stoves are serviced regularly it can prevent many problems from occurring.

The department is highly trained in all aspects of fire and rescue and continues to perform at a high level of proficiency. We are always looking for new members. Our community relies on volunteers for many things and being part of an organization that helps your neighbors when they are in need can be a very rewarding experience.

Make sure that your house numbers are posted at the end of the driveway and can be seen from either direction. We need to be able to locate you if you are in need of our help.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Showalter
Fire Chief
Washington Volunteer Fire Department

Annual Reports:

See the Town Annual Report for yearly reports on the activities of the Fire Department.

The Ladies Auxiliary of The Washington Volunteer Fire Department

Memorial Day Parade, 2004 Photo by Kristine (Johnson) Mothersele

The Ladies Auxiliary was organized in 1979, with the purpose to provide assistance and support to the firemen in their duties whenever and wherever needed. This continues to be our goal today. The officers this year [2005] are as follows: Rosa Woodruff - President, Betsy Brinton - Vice President, Ann Gollsneider - Secretary, Claire Wilber - Treasurer.

The Auxiliary holds several events throughout the year to help raise money for the needs of the department. In the fall we sponsor a Craft Fair at the Depot Firehouse. Most of the crafters are from the local area, and we welcome new crafters every year. The Auxiliary has begun to sell pewter ornaments depicting local buildings. The ornaments are drawn by Cindy Brissett and created by Woodbury Pewter. We have been selling the ornaments for the past six years. We began in 1999 with "The Old Depot Firehouse", 2000 was the "Bryan Memorial Hall" and 2001 was the "Harry O. Erickson Pavilion Hall". In 2002, we began the first ornament in the church series with "The Stone Church" in New Preston. "The First Congregational Church of Washington" was the 2003 ornament. The ornament for 2004 was "St. Andrew's Church in Marble Dale." This year we decided to take a break from the churches. Our 2005 ornament depicts "Papa Joe's Doggie Wagon." Each ornament comes in a protective plastic bag and contains and informational card about the subject depicted. We are currently taking orders for this years ornament and still have past years available. The ornaments will also be available for sale/order at most of the other events we participate in.

The Auxiliary also sponsors an award to a resident of the Washington community that will be graduating from S.V.H.S. this year. Other activities the Auxiliary participates in include the Memorial Day Parade and Holiday in the Depot at which we provide cookies and soda. Some of the Auxiliary members have taking part in an Emergency Preparedness Course sponsored by the American Red Cross. The course taught us how to prepare an emergency shelter in the event that we would need to open one.

Although are current membership is small, we welcome anyone to join. We have a meeting on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 at the Depot Firehouse. There are many ways to help that require only a small amount of your time. To find out more about joining the Auxiliary call Betsy Brinton at 860-868-7961. To place orders for an ornament please call Sally Wright at 860-868-2698. If you would like to reserve a space for a craft table at Craft Fair this year please call Rosa Woodruff at 860-868-0111.