A FDNY Memorial Service for our fallen brothers of September 11, 2001, is set for Sunday, November 18, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. The International Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF Locals 94 and 854, the Fire Department of New York, and Mayor Rudy Giuliani have formed a partnership to produce the memorial service, which is expected to be the largest gathering of firefighters in history.
     The memorial program will start in the early morning hours with a procession of uniformed firefighters and paramedics, led by FDNY personnel and union leaders, in the midtown Manhattan area. The two-hour service will begin at 11AM. Full details are still being developed.
     All those planning on attending the memorial service will be expected to make their own travel and lodging arrangements. The IAFF and Firehouse.com have already been working with area hotels, major airlines, Amtrak, and other travel services to provide special rates to memorial service attendees and information will be posted on the IAFF web site as it becomes available. You can check the IAFF website by clicking here, or you can email memorial@iaff.org or call (703) 359-0057 the IAFF for more information.

10/28/01 FDNY Memorial for Christian Regenhard Ladder 131

     Along with 12 other members from the Waterbury Fire Department, I attended the memorial service for FireFighter Christian Regenhard of FDNY, Ladder 131, on Friday, October 26, 2001. The memorial service was held at St Patrick's Cathedral. I took some photos at the service and created a photo gallery. There are 10 photos in the Christian Regenhard Memorial Gallery.
     Memorial pages for all the firefighters who died on September 11 can be found here.

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10/27/01 Line of Duty Death - Glenn Dale, MD

     Our condolences to the Howzdy family and the Glenn Dale, Maryland Fire Association. FireFighter William Howzdy, 71, a veteran since 1962 with the Glenn Dale Fire Association in Prince Georges County, Maryland died Thursday, October 25, 2001. William collapsed and suffered a fatal heart attack while building shelves for the station storage shed.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the William Howzdy Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/27/01 Line of Duty Death - Maple Rapids, MI

     Our condolences to the Elliott family and the Maple Rapids, Michigan Fire Department. FireFighter Michael Elliott, 46, an 18 year veteran of the Maple Rapids Fire Department died Wednesday, October 24, 2001. Michael was struck and killed by a falling tree while performing storm watch duties along with the fire department while his community was under a tornado warning.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the Michael Elliott Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/25/01 Zoomable Satellite Photo of WTC

     I received a link from a friend to a webpage that shows a satellite picture of the World Trade Center area in New York. The photo can be zoomed in and out. After you point to the area you want to zoom, and zoom in, the software sharpens the image. I mean REALLY sharpens the image. I was able to zoom in so close you can see trucks and girders. Simply amazing technology. Now they just need to point this thing at the mountains of Afganistan. You can view the webpage here.

     I also received a link to a webpage that displays a photo of the flag raising fireman along with the words from The Pledge of Allegiance. You can find that page here, as well as a slightly smaller image that prints out on an 8x10 piece of paper here, Thanks Dewayne.

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10/24/01 Photo Galleries Updated

     Jerry Buner of Orange County, New York has added 11 more photos to his photo gallery of apparatus. Please take a look at these 31 photos in the Jerry Buner photo gallery.

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10/23/01 Re-Broadcast of 'In Their Own Words'

     A&E has picked up the 'Third Watch' NBC series and is going to be rebroadcasting their special episode Friday, October 26. If you missed it the first time, make sure you watch it or tape it this time. What an excellent show of support for our brothers in New York. Two hours of first person reports and feelings from FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority Workers, and their spouses - 'In their own words'. I would like to reiterate one firefighter's words, and say that they will NEVER be forgotten.

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10/22/01 Wolcott Junior Fire Department

     Waterbury FireFighter Dan Chieffo made the paper while instructing Wolcott Volunteer Junior Fire Department members in proper stream application at Company 3. Wolcott's Junior FireFighter program is one of six communities in the state that allow members between the ages of 14 and 21. They meet on Monday nights and receive the same training as regular firefighters, some hands on and some classroom. They are allowed to take the state exam and join the department as full members at age 18. I intend to visit one of the pumpkin-head meetings very soon. (orange helmets)

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10/20/01 FDNY Memorial for Vernon Cherry Ladder 118

     Along with 10 other members from the Waterbury Fire Department, I attended the memorial service for FireFighter Vernon Cherry of FDNY, Ladder 118. In doing so, I have decided that there are too many line of duty deaths during this incident for me to build a memorial page for every firefighter who made the ultimate sacrifice. The work has already been done, and is still being done by the FDNY. I am going to build one page for them all. Along with a link to their database of missing and line of duty death personnel. The FDNY memorial can be found here.

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10/19/01 Line of Duty Death - Clark County, NV

     Our condolences to the Marsh family and the Clark County, Nevada Volunteer Fire Department. FireFighter Bob Marsh, 78, a veteran with the Cal Nev Ari Station 84 Company died Sunday, October 14, 2001. Bob suffered a fatal heart attack about 8:30PM while responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident on US Highway 95 just across the California border. The small town, 70 miles south of Las Vegas, has an 18 member volunteer department. Marsh was the sole member of Squad 1-84.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the Bob Marsh Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/18/01 Line of Duty Death - Houston, TX

     Our condolences to the Frayne family and the Channahon, Illinois Fire Protection District. FireFighter Kenneth Frayne, 28, a 4 year veteran with the Channahon Fire Protection District died Saturday, October 13, 2001. Kenneth died in an accident during dive rescue training.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the Kenneth Frayne Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/17/01 Two New Photo Galleries

     I received some photos of the damage to the subway tunnels beneath ground zero. The photos were forwarded to me and I am in the process of finding out who took them. The 15 photos can be reached at the New York Subways - Photos from Underground Zero photo gallery.

     Waterbury FireFighter Elac Aviles forwarded some photos of the Candlelight Vigil held last Thursday in Library Park. There are 10 photos in the Waterbury Candlelight Vigil photo gallery. I brightened them up a bit, but some are still a little dark, my apologies.

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10/16/01 Thanks and Photo Galleries Updated

     I would like to say thanks to the producers of Third Watch on NBC. What an excellent show of support for our brothers on TV last night. Two hours of first person reports and feelings from FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority Workers, and their spouses - 'In their own words'. I would like to reiterate one firefighter's words, and say that they will NEVER be forgotten.

     There are couple of photo gallery updates on the website today. While I was in the Cape last week, I took a photo of a beautiful memorial statue dedicated to the brothers of the Yarmouth Fire Department who made the ultimate sacrafice. The photo is on a separate page that can be reached through the Fallen Brothers section or here - Yarmouth Memorial. Also, Jerry Buner emailed me three more photos to add to his apparatus gallery, view them here - Jerry Buner.

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10/15/01 Photo Galleries Updated

     Jerry Buner of Orange County, New York has started a photo gallery of apparatus. Please take a look at these 17 photos in the Jerry Buner photo gallery.

     While I was on vacation in the Cape, a candlelight vigil was held in Waterbury by the Police and Fire Departments. Library Park was filled with 1,500 people as members of both departments marched in to the sound of the bagpipes from the Connecticut Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the Waterbury Police Pipes and Drums. One photo was added to the 9/11/01 Tributes photo gallery. I am getting some more photos of the event to be posted soon.

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10/14/01 Line of Duty Death - Houston, TX

     Our condolences to the Jahnke family and the Houston, Texas Fire Department. Captain Jay Jahnke, 40, a 20 year veteran with the Houston Fire Department died Saturday, October 13, 2001. Jay and a civilian lost their lives in a multiple alarm fire on the fifth floor of one of two 40 story buildings in Galleria - the Four Leaf Towers. Another firefighter suffered third degree burns to his hands; two other firefighters, two paramedics, and four residents all suffered smoke inhalation.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the Jay Jahnke Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/13/01 Photo Galleries Updated

     There was a structure fire in Waterbury on Tuesday night. It was during my shift, but I was on vacation in Cape Cod. No one injured in the blaze. The homeowner was alerted by his barking dog and escaped through a first floor window. Two very nice photos were added to the WFD Press photo gallery.

     While I was on vacation in the Cape, I visited the Cape Cod Mall and met some members of the Hyannis Fire Department. They were collecting Fill the Boot for the victims in New York. Two photos were added to the 9/11/01 Tributes photo gallery.

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10/13/01 Line of Duty Death - Brown Mills, NJ

     Our condolences to the Barns family and the Country Lakes, New Jersey Fire Department. Fire Police Lieutenant Willie Barns, 66, a 24 year veteran with the Country Lakes Fire Company died Sunday, September 16, 2001. Willie was responding to a transformer fire to perform emergency traffic duty. Less than a mile from the fire station Willie suffered a massive heart attack. After returning from the fire, his brother firefighters thought his vehicle had broke down, but found him slumped over the wheel. CPR was performed, and rescuers had him for a while, but he passed away shortly after at the Virtua-Memorial Hospital of Burlington County in Mount Holly.

     For more news, information, and photos, please visit the Willie Barns Memorial in the Fallen Brothers Section.

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10/7/01 Vacation and First Website Break

     Well readers, I am taking my first break from the website. I will be vacationing in Cape Cod this week with my family. I hope to get back to working on the site on Saturday. Anyone who is able to attend the Candlelight Vigil at Library Park on Thursday night, please email me some photos.

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10/6/01 WFD Press Gallery Updated

     Thursday, a 24 hour open house was held at The Ark Full Gospel Church in appreciation of Waterbury Police Officers and Firefighters in the wake of the tragedy of September 11. The parishioners made a smorgasbord of homemade food for anyone who attended. A photo was added to the WFD Press gallery.
     The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is going to be webcast live, Sunday, October 7, 2001 at 9:30AM-12:00OM EST. To view the webcast, visit www.usfa.fema.gov on Sunday and follow the directions provided there.

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10/5/01 Attention WFD Members Local 1339

     The October regular meeting of Local 1339 will be Thursday, October 11, 2001, at Northside Station, 7PM. I am investigating whether the meeting will be rescheduled because there will be a candlelight vigil to remember all the emergency responders who were lost in the line of duty during the terrorist attacks on the same evening, October 11, 2001. The vigil will be held at Library Park in Waterbury. All department members attending are asked to arrive by 6:30PM in full dress uniform with gloves. Refreshments will be served following the service. I will post the reschedule date if the union meeting is indeed postponed.

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10/05/01 911 Tributes Photo Gallery Updated

     Jason Mumbach has sent me some more photos. This time he attended the Bridgeport Fire Department candlelight vigil on Tuesday, October 2. It looks like the Connecticut Firefighters Pipes and Drums were in attendance also. I added three photos from the candlelight vigil to the 9/11/01 Tributes photo gallery.

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10/4/01 WFD Press Gallery and WFD Schedule Updated

     Two fires in Waterbury on Monday. A bus fire on the highway (no students aboard) and a structure fire in an old manufacturing complex. Both photos were added to the WFD Press gallery. Also, I finished the 2002 schedule for WFD. Please check out the WFD Schedule section. I have it split into 3 pages, 2001 July-December, 2002 January-June, and 2002 July-December.

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10/3/01 Salute to Connecticut's Bravest

     The Connecticut Firefighter of the Year Awards Dinner by the Exchange Club of Waterbury will be held Thursday, October 25, 6PM at the Aqua Turf Restaurant. Firefighter Kevin McDonald will be honored at this event. Tickets are $12.00 for members and $22.00 for guests. Anyone attending MUST RSVP Ann Ferraro at (203) 756-9515 NO LATER than October 15th.

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10/03/01 America Unites Benefit Dinner

     A Benefit Dinner with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross will be held Tuesday, October 16, 6-9PM at the Grand Oak Villa on Sylvan Lake Road in Watertown. Raffle, Buffet, Soft Drinks with Drawing at 9PM. Tickets are $20.00 per adult, children 6-12 $10.00, kids 5 & under are FREE. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased at LaBonne's Market in Watertown, Powerstation Entertainment in Middlebury, and Tinker Elementary School in Waterbury.

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10/2/01 Senate Approves Fire Grants

     Yesterday, the Senate approved an amendment to increase financial assistance to fire departments across the country in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack. Senator Chris Dodd said "Today, these departments are being asked to become, essentially, soldiers," as he argued to approve the amendment. The amendment will increase last year's $100 million in grants for fire departments to $600 million in fiscal 2002, to $800 million next year and to $1 billion in 2004. "When terrorists target civilian populations on American soil, we are going to need our rescue services to be as well- equipped as they possible can be,'' Dodd said. "This is a national security issue, a new definition of what we're talking about.''

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10/1/01 New Photo Gallery

     Jason Mumbach just happened to be driving on I-91 the other day and she sent me some great photos of the fire at the Hartford Civic Center in CT. The center is open for business already, it was an electrical fire started by some transformers that involved a steak restaurant in the stadium. Fie photos were added to the Civic Center Fire - Hartford, CT gallery.

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