10/31/06 Line of Duty Death - West New York, NJ
Our condolences to the England family, the Beaver Volunteer Fire
Department, and the Beckley Fire Department of West Virginia. Fire
Chaplain Dr. Raleigh 'Gene' England II, 59, Deputy Chief / Fire
Chaplain for the Beaver and Beckley Fire Departments died Saturday
October 28, 2006. Gene was attending a weekly meeting on Thursday
October 19, 2006 in the capacity of Co-Coordinator of the Crisis
Response Team, when he left for a lunch break after complaining of
feeling ill. Shortly after he suffered a stroke. Gene passed away
from the injury at his home on Saturday October 28, 2006.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Raleigh England II Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/30/06 Armpatch Gallery Update
I made another update to the armpatch gallery today. I have added 24
new armpatches including these from the Derry Fire Department of New
Hampshire and the Idyllwild Fire Protection District of California.
These new armpatches can be found on pages
Armpatch 157
and
Armpatch 158.
There are now 1,896 armpatches in the gallery.
10/27/06 Line of Duty Death - Idyllwild, CA
Our condolences to the Loutzenhiser, McLean, McKay, Hoover-Najera, and the United
States Forest Service families. Captain Mark Loutzenhiser, 44, and FireFighters Jess
McLean, 27, Jason McKay, 27, and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of the U.S. Forest Service
San Jacinto Ranger District assigned to Engine 57 lost their lives fighting the Esperanza
Wildland Fire near Cabazon, California on Thursday October 26, 2006. The fire crew was
defending a home when they were overtaken by flames fanned by the Santa Ana Winds gusting
at over 25 mph. The fifth member of the fire crew, Pablo Cerda, remained in critical
condition with burns over 90 percent of his body and lung damage.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Esperanza Wildland Tragedy Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/25/06 Attention WFD Members
There is now an inventory of Jeff Trota shirts available at Headquarters.
If you haven't purchased yours yet, they are $15 Short Sleeve and $20
Long Sleeve. If you're not local to Waterbury, CT - shirts can be mail
ordered with the form located on the
Jeff Trota Memorial
page. Jeff lost his battle to cancer last year after 21 years of service
with the WFD.
A stag will be held for Dave Martin on Saturday October 28th 1-5PM at
the A.O.H. in Waterbury. Tickets are $30. Contacts are Shawn Pace at
Station 2 and Bill Unwin at Brass City Barbershop (203) 597-9124.
A retirement party for Al Valerioti will be held on Thursday November
9th 6-10PM at Daniels Fine Catering in Waterbury. Tickets are $30
pre-paid. Contact is Mike Couture in the B.I.T. (203) 597-3453.
10/23/06 Bob Veillette Wiffleball Challenge Fundraiser
After the first article in the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper
about firefighters playing wiffleball, Station 10 challenged the Rep-Am
staff to a game. The resulting 1st Annual Bob Veillette Wiffleball Challenge
raised $308 to be added to funds raised by the road-race and halloween
costume walk held the same day. Bob Veillette, the managing editor for the
newspaper, suffers from Locked-In Syndrome after surviving a major stroke.
Funds are being raised to bring him home. Learn more about Bob Veillette
and Locked-In Syndrome at
www.Bob5K.com.
The firefighters were the victors in the first annual tournament.
10/22/06 Funny Video
If you haven't seen this video by Ross Matthews, you must check it out.
I couldn't stop laughing when they started the car fire. Ross Matthews
is an intern for the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, who visits the
Burbank Fire Department for some firefighting experience. Let me just
say he is a little fruity but very funny. Watch the video
here
or at NBC's Tonight Show page
here.
10/20/06 Armpatch Gallery Update
I hate to do another armpatch update so soon, but I can't keep up with
the submissions I am receiving. I have added 24 new armpatches
including these from the Detroit Fire Department Engine 49 of Detroit,
Michigan and the Tar Fire Department Station 57 of Bladen County, North
Carolina. These new armpatches can be found on pages
Armpatch 155
and
Armpatch 156.
Tar Heel's patch was submitted to be added to the
Ronald Allen Jr. Memorial.
Ronald passed away in the Line of Duty last month.
10/18/06 Line of Duty Death - West New York, NJ
Our condolences to the Neglia family and the North Hudson Regional
Fire & Rescue Department of West New York, New Jersey. Acting Captain
Vincent Neglia, 45, an 18 year veteran with the North Hudson Regional
Fire & Rescue Department died Saturday September 9, 2006. Vincent was
searching for victims on the third floor of a three story apartment
building in Union City when fire broke into the area he was searching,
trapping him. He was rescued by a hose team and rushed to St. Mary's
Hospital in Hoboken where he was pronounced dead. Another firefighter
was burned at the incident.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Vincent Neglia Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/16/06 Attention WFD Members
Congratulations to Waterbury Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year
2006 James Santa Lucia. The Exchange Club will be hosting a dinner
to present Jimmy his award at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, CT on
Thursday October 26th. If you would like to attend, tickets are $27,
and tables seat 10 people. Email John Keane
here
or mail your check with name and number attending to Annette Petruzzi,
173 Kendall Circle, Waterbury, CT 06708.
The Annual Kevin McDonald
Memorial Ride will be held Wednesday October 25th at 9:30AM. Meet at
Dunkin Donuts on East Main Street, ride to Calvary Cemetery, then
ride. Contact Firefighter of the Year Jimmy Santa Lucia at Northside
with any questions.
10/12/06 Armpatch Gallery Updates
I went through my armpatch folder today. I have added 24 new armpatches
including these from the Cleveland Heights Fire Department of Cleveland
Heights, Ohio and Connecticut's very own Southington Fire Department of
Southington, Connecticut - just one town over from my hometown - Waterbury.
These new armpatches can be found on pages
Armpatch 153
and
Armpatch 154.
That brings my total number of armpatches in the gallery to 1,849 !! Keep those
armpatches coming in.
10/10/06 Line of Duty Death - Baltimore City, MD
Our condolences to the Roberts family and the Baltimore City Fire
Service of Baltimore, Maryland. FireFighter Allan Roberts, 42,
a 19 year veteran with the Baltimore City Fire Service died Tuesday
October 10, 2006. Allan, assigned to Truck 26, was battling an early
morning two-alarm rowhouse fire on South Macon Street in the Greektown
neighborhood, when the second floor partially collapsed, trapping Allan
and two other firefighters. A RIT team was able to rescue the trapped
firefighters. They were transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical
Center where Allan later died. The two other firefighters suffered minor
burns. Two civilians who jumped from the second floor were also injured
during the blaze.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Allan Roberts Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/9/06 Attention WFD Members
There will be a rally this Wednesday October 11th at 12:30PM on the
steps of City Hall in Waterbury to support Joseph Lieberman for
Connecticut State Senator. Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters
Association of Connecticut President Peter Carozza will be speaking,
as well as the President of the Connecticut Council of Police Unions.
All Active and Retired IAFF members are requested to attend.
10/6/06 Waterbury Firefighters Calendar Signing
Tonight at the Crossroads Cantina, 210 Meadow Street in Waterbury,
firefighters featured in this year's
Waterbury Firefighters Calendar
will be on hand to sell and sign copies of the calendar. Calendars are $10, and 100%
of the proceeds benefit the Childrens Care Burn Camp of Connecticut. Click
here
for more information.
10/5/06 Line of Duty Death - Highland Heights, OH
Our condolences to the Jenik family and the Highland Heights Fire
Department of Highland Heights, Ohio. Executive Captain Edward Jenik,
53, a veteran with the Highland Heights Fire Department died Wednesday
September 27, 2006. Edward was returning to the fire station in a
department vehicle when he was discovered slumped over the wheel. The
vehicle had come to a stop in the middle of the road. Edward had
complained of feeling tired before leaving for lunch. A heart attack
is suspected in the incident.
For more news, information, and photos, please visit the
Edward Jenik Memorial in the
Fallen Brothers Section.
10/3/06 Armpatch Gallery Updates
I went through my armpatch folder today. I have added 25 new armpatches
including these from the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department of North
Carolina and the Rockford Fire Department IAFF Local 413 of Illinois.
These new armpatches can be found on pages
Armpatch 151
and
Armpatch 152.
That brings my total number of armpatches in the gallery to 1,825 !! Keep those
armpatches coming in.
10/2/06 Des Moines Firefighter Bike Fundraiser
IAFF Local #4 Des Moines, Iowa is raffling off a custom motorcycle to benefit
the widows and children of 2 Des Moines firefighters who died in the line of
duty in the last year. Raffle tickets are $20 each and can be purchased
here.
The drawing will be held on October 27, 2006, and ticket sales end on October 20th.
