Our condolences to the Rucker family and the Novato Fire Protection
District of California. Fire Engineer Steve Rucker, 38, an 11 year
veteran of the Novato Fire Protection District died Wednesday October
29, 2003. Steve died from injuries sustained when him and his crew of
Engine 6162 were overrun by the Cedar Fire in San Diego County near
Wynola. Three other members of his crew were injured in the incident.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Steve Rucker Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/30/03 Photo Gallery Update
Waterbury Fire Lieutenant Jim Burns took some great photos
Saturday morning at the Lithuanian Club Fire on Green Street
in Waterbury. The 111 year old building came in at 4:45AM as
a report of a structure fire and it was upgraded right away to
a two alarm fire. Companies did an great job saving all the
exposures, of which 8 received heat damage. There are 6
photos in the
Jim Burns - Lithuanian Club Fire
photo gallery.
10/29/03 Line of Duty Death - St. Cloud, MN
Our condolences to the Billig family and the St. Cloud Fire
Department of Minnesota. Assistant Chief Don Billig, 49, an
18 year veteran of the St. Cloud Fire Department Volunteer
Division died Monday October 27, 2003. Don had responded
with a crew in a brush truck to a report of a generator
smoking at a roadside contruction zone. As his crew was
getting ready to leave, a pickup truck sped into the scene,
crashing into Unit 5 and then Don.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Don Billig Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/28/03 Waterville Firehouse Resotoration
The Waterbury Firemen's Historical Society and Waterbury
Firefighter's Local 1339 has purchased and is restoring the
old Waterville Firehouse to it's former glory. The firehouse is
being restored to provide membership offices and a community
center that will host a variety of functions. The firehouse ramp
is being restored with brick pavers. You can sponsor a brick
with your own personal message to be installed permanently in
the ramp. Click
here
for more information.
10/23/03 Line of Duty Death - Oran, IA
Our condolences to the Richards family and the Oran Fire Department
of Iowa. Assistant Fire Chief James Richards, 49, a 30 year veteran of
the Oran Fire Department died Tuesday October 21, 2003. James was
operationg a pumper at a grass fire west of Oran in Bremer County
when he suffered a heart attack. He was transported to Mercy
Hospital in Oelwein.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
James Richards Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/22/03 Attention WFD Members
Voting will be held on Friday October 24, 2003 1500-1900 hours
at the Union Offices in the Elton Hotel for the formal vote for the
Waterville Firehouse Assessment and the City-Wide Overtime
Guidelines. All members of Local 1339 are encouraged to make
every effort to attend.
10/20/03 Line of Duty Death - Minden, NV
Our condolences to the Attardo and Dolbeare families, the United
States Forest Service, and Minden Air Corp of Nevada. Pilot Carl
Dolbeare, 54, and Co-Pilot John Attardo, 51, both career firefighting
pilots with Minden Air Corp died Friday October 3, 2003. Carl and
John were killed when their air tanker, a twin engine P2-V Neptune,
crashed in a remote area near Redlands, California while returning
to San Bernadino Air Tanker Base after firefighting duty in Arizona.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
John Attardo and Carl Dolbeare Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/12/02 Vacation
Well readers, I am taking my annual fall Cape Cod vacation. I will be
doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying my family this week. I can't
wait to get some of that Captain Parker's chowda.
10/9/03 Attention WFD Members
The October meeting of the Waterbury FireFighters Local 1339
is scheduled for Wednesday October 15, 2003 1900 hours at
Station 2. Executive Board will meet at 1830 hours. Please note
date change. All members are encouraged to make every
effort to attend.
A Retirement Party will be held for Waterbury Fire Department
Director of Communications William Calabrese on Thursday
October 16, 2003 7-11PM at The Hills Restaurant in Waterbury.
Contact Mari Kenney in the Fire Chief's Office (203) 597-3450.
10/8/03 Line of Duty Death - Philadelphia, PA
Our condolences to the Allen family and the Philadelphia Fire
Department of Pennsylvania. FireFighter James Allen, 43, a 7
year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department died Tuesday
October 7, 2003. James was opening up the roof at a one alarm
structure fire in the Port Richmond section of the city when he
suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Northeastern Hospital
where he was pronounced dead.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
James Allen Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/6/03 Line of Duty Death - Redkey, IN
Our condolences to the Luttman family and the Redkey Volunteer
Fire Department of Indiana. Fire Chief Jon Luttman, 53, a 20 year
veteran of the Redkey Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Chief
of 20 years died Saturday September 27, 2003. Jon complained
of not feeling well while participating in a department fund raising
event. After the fundraiser he returned home and rested a while
before driving himself to Jay County Hospital where he suffered
a heart attack and died.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Jon Luttman Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/4/03 BVFD Raffle Orange County Chopper
The Bedington Fire Dept in Martinsburg, West Virginia is
holding a raffle for an
Orange County Choppers
custom Volunteer Firefighters Theme Chopper. Orange
County Choppers of Rock Tavern, NY ('American Chopper'
on Discovery Channel) will design, build, and deliver this bike
to the 2004 BVFD Interstate Fair. O.C.C. will be at the fair
for several days selling merchandise, and displaying other
bikes. This bike will be one of a kind. Only 10,000 tickets
will be sold, to purchase a ticket and learn more about the
motorcycle click
here.
10/3/03 Line of Duty Death - Cool Springs, IN
Our condolences to the Williams family and the Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department of North Carolina. FireFighter Gerald Williams, 60, a 12 year veteran of the Cool Springs Volunteer
Fire Department died Tuesday September 30, 2003. Gerald was
sleeping at the fire station after having participated in hose
training when he suffered a heart attack and died.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Gerald Williams Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/2/03 Line of Duty Death - New Bremen, OH
Our condolences to the Garman and Jutte families and the New Bremen German Township Fire Department of Ohio. FireFighters John Garman, 40, a 10 year veteran, and FireFighter Kenneth Jutte, 44, an 18 year veteran of the New Bremen German Township Fire Department died Wednesday October 10, 2003. John and Kenneth were killed by a dust explosion while fighting a fire in a silo at Hoge Lumber in New Knoxville. Five other firefighters and two civilians were also injured during the explosion.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
John Garman and Kenneth Jutte Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/1/03 Photo Gallery Update
Tom Rige, retired NYPD & self-proclaimed fire buff sent me 11
more apparatus photos to add to his photo gallery, including
this photo of FDNY Engine 6 at St. John Street. There are 75
photos in the
Tom Rige
photo gallery.
K.C. Rist from Orange County, New York sent me 20 more Orange
County apparatus photos to add to his photo gallery, including this
photo of the Orange County FireFighters patch with the Orange
County Choppers theme. There 62 photos in the
K.C. Rist
photo gallery.
