Trumbull Center Fire District is formed, 1950

Written by Administrator | 05 March 2010

From the time of its founding in 1925 until 1950, all funds needed to buy trucks, hose, and other firefighting equipment had been raised by the Trumbull Volunteer Fire Company. Card parties, Bingo, and in later years an annual carnival were highly successful. When games of chance were made illegal in 1949 by the State Legislature, the carnival became unprofitable.

In June 1950 at a meeting in Center School called by the town selectmen in response to a petition by 20 voters of District #1, the Trumbull Center Fire District was formed to provide regular financial support for firefighting operations within the District. The first annual meeting followed on September 22, 1950, where a budget of $7490 and a tax rate of 1.75 mills were adopted. The first elected commissioners were Tracey Fabian, James Heneghan, and David Calhoune. Treasurer was Lyman Rodgers, and the Secretary-Tax Collector was Walter Guden.
One of the first actions taken by the newly formed District was the purchase of an urgently needed pumper. A 1951 Maxim was ordered and delivered during the summer of 1951. This truck is still in active service today.

As the population of the District increased and new areas were developed (particularly in the upper Daniels Farm Road section), it became evident that additional coverage on "The Hill" was required.

After extensive searching and negotiating with many property owners, the site for the present Daniels Farm Firehouse was selected and purchased in September 1958. The price was $6000 for the two-acre plot- a reasonable price in those days. At the same meeting the voters also authorized the purchase of two additional pumpers- one to provide coverage at the new firehouse and the other to replace an aging Reo Pumper owned by the Fire Company. Specifications were written, bids obtained, and both pumpers were ordered from the Maxim Company in the summer of 1959. They were delivered in 1961, and each was rated at 750 gallons per minute pumping capacity while drafting from a pond or pool. The trucks were identical; however, one was later modified for a time to carry extra tanks for forest fire fighting.

Plans for a new firehouse were approved at a special meeting held February 16, 1959, and ground was broken during the summer of 1959 with the building being accepted by the Fire Commissioners on May 25, 1960.

During 1962 an emergency power system was added to the Daniels Farm Fire Station. This unit has proved its worth during many power outages. Probably the most notable of these occasions were the Great Blackout in the fall of 1965, Hurricane Ada in June 1971, and the ice storm in December 1973. During each of these instances electrical power was out for many hours. With the emergency generator in operation at Daniels Farm Firehouse, the volunteers maintained contact with police headquarters and were able to provide complete fire coverage.

In 1963 another 750 gallon per minute pumper was ordered. This new unit was placed into service in December 1964 and completed the replacement of the pumpers owned by the Fire Company.

The extremely dry years from 1960 through 1966 saw a huge increase in the number of fires in our woodlands. Many of these were extensive and required large amounts of water, available only by pumping through long hose lays. Because large pumpers are restricted to surfaced or all-weather roads, a decision was made to purchase a four-wheel-drive pickup truck to carry hose and equipment into and out of the woods. This was purchased in 1967 and was also equipped with a plow for snow removal at both the Daniels Farm and White Plains Road firehouses. The pickup proved its worth time and again; however, time and rough off-the-road usage at many fires took its toll, and the truck was replaced by a heavier duty model in the autumn of 1972. This four-wheel-drive vehicle has recently been fitted with a removable 275 gallon water tank and a portable pump. The Volunteers added 300 feet of garden hose, and we now have a low cost (less than $175 for the tank, piping and hose), highly effective brush truck.

The increasing development of the Trumbull Center Area during the late 1960'to the present pointed out the need for a piece of elevating apparatus. Many times it is desirable to apply a large volume of water to a fire from above. Such a fire engine could also be used for rescue operations. After extensive investigation, an eighty-five foot aerial tower was ordered from the Sutphen Fire Equipment Company, Columbus, Ohio. The truck was delivered and placed into service in June 1971.

The frequency and severity of automobile accidents in the past years made it obvious for the District, in conjunction with the Volunteers, to increase the Fire Departments rescue capabilities. The Volunteers purchased a rescue truck, and the District furnished a great deal of specialized equipment. In addition to a very effective high pressure pump, this vehicle is equipped with a portable power saw with interchangeable blades for cutting steel, roofing, or trees; an air chisel for cutting light steel such as automobile doors and roofs; and an electric heavy-duty saw. The latest addition was the Hurst Power Tool- the so-called "Jaws of Life". With this tool a trained operator can dismantle a car in less than fifteen minutes; thus trapped victims can be quickly extricated. These major pieces of rescue equipment plus many extras such as chains, jacks, etc. combined with the most important part, trained men, gives the Center Fire District a highly effective rescue unit.

The Trumbull Center Fire District, while operating as an autonomous fourth level governmental unit, must and does communicate and cooperate with other town agencies. The District Chairman and the Chief of the Trumbull Volunteer Fire Company are members of the Town Fire Protection Board. Here they can obtain an over-all view of fire protection needs as they exist town-wide, prevent wasteful duplication of apparatus and equipment, insure adequate coverage, and plan for future fire and emergency needs.

The members of the Commission also belong to both the Fairfield County Fire Chief's Emergency Plan and the Valley Fire Chiefs Association. Through these organizations, mutual aid is available from towns and fire companies over a wide area. The necessity for mutual aid can be immediate and massive as was demonstrated in Shelton on March 1, 1975, during the explosion and fire at the Sponge Rubber Plant. Both Trumbull Center and Nichols Fire Departments responded to that fire. Should a similar situation occur here, we should receive the same assistance from other Fairfield County Fire Departments.

The basic objective of the Fire District is to provide the residents of the Trumbull Center District with the finest fire protection at the most reasonable cost. The quality of this protection was evaluated in 1968 by the Insurance Service Organization (I.S.O), the rating branch of the Fire Underwriters. They allowed the Town of Trumbull a decrease in fire insurance rates resulting in a saving on each home and business insured.

This article has dealt basically with equipment and apparatus in an effort to show how your fire tax dollars are spent. However, without trained men to operate the trucks and tools there would be no fire protection. The Trumbull Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Inc. provides the key ingredient - the firemen!

Written by :

Administrator