Volunteer Recruitment is Underway! If you're interested in becoming a volunteer in Stamford, come down and stop by our station one any Monday evening after 7:00 PM to speak with one of our representatives about joining a department near you! Turn of River Fire Department, Long Ridge Fire Company, Belltown Fire Department, Springdale Fire Company, and Glenbrook Fire Department are all currently accepting applications for new volunteers. It's a great way to give back to your community. Neighbors helping neighbors!

We are now a 100% volunteer fire department!
The City of Stamford previously slashed our operating budget 88% under the Malloy administration. (A budget we are still working under).
To operate both of our stations: We went from $320,000 to only $40,000!
Additionally, the City of Stamford removed all of our paid firefighters.

We remain optimistic, even in the current tough economic times. We are working together with the City to restore proper funding for all fire departments and are working towards a solution to the current issues we are facing.

Turn of River Fire Department is fully functional and available to serve you in your time of need. Whether it be a fire, smoke alarm sounding, motor vehicle accident, a medical emergency, or natural disaster, we ARE here to help you!

Letters: (As published in The Stamford Advocate)

Mayor Pavia: How the New Fire Department Plan Works

As you may know, the city of Stamford has been hamstrung by a disjointed fire service for nearly 20 years. Shortly after taking office, I created a task force to resolve this issue and last week we presented our recommendation to consolidate the volunteer fire departments into one force, the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department. I want to give you my direct perspective on why this is the best next step, and how and why it will work.

1. Why doesn't the city just create one fire department instead of separating volunteers from the city fire department?

Having one fire department would be an ideal solution, but unfortunately, legal limitations, state statutes and the city's own Charter prohibit us from creating a single fire department. In the long term, a single citywide fire department may be given further consideration; in the near term this combined approach is the best option.

2. How does this plan benefit residents within the Fire Service District?

- Residents will receive the optimum fire protection service through a standardized organization structured to assure that the optimal number of fire fighters will be on hand at all stations at all times.

- Residents in the district will receive a direct, dollar-for-dollar return on their investment. The money they put into the fire service will be used only for that service.

- A clear chain of command will eliminate glitches during the vital moments of emergencies as well as provide better administrative management.

- It combines all volunteer fire departments into one unified force.

- Consistent standards will improve the department's overall service to residents.

3. How much is this going to cost residents of the new fire district?

Once the total cost of hiring the new fire fighters and operating the four volunteer houses is determined, the 16,000 estimated residences and businesses in this new Fire Service District will be assessed their fair share of the cost. The cost will be nominal in relation to the residents' overall tax bills.

So as not to penalize residents and businesses in the new Fire Service District by assessing a service fee in addition to their annual property taxes, the city will adjust their individual mill rates to assure that they are not overpaying for total city services.

4. How does this new cost affect the people in the new fire district, and those outside the district?

First off, residents outside the district are not affected at all; no tax dollars, not a penny, from anyone outside the new fire district will be used to pay for fire service in the new district. It is more a service fee because it is service specific and geography specific and it will not increase the city's budget one cent.

5. How will the city find the new fire fighters needed?

The Board of Directors of the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department may recruit from among their current ranks of volunteers; it is a common practice for volunteer fire fighters to join the ranks of paid fire fighters. The board will also recruit from the general workforce.

6. Will any Stamford Fire & Rescue fire fighters be laid off in order to staff the new volunteer department?

No.

7. Exactly why is this plan better?

This plan is better because it assures every resident in every corner of the city will receive the optimum fire protection and it does so more efficiently; here's how:

- It unifies the former volunteer departments as one force versus five; varied individual efforts and interests are now bound by one common interest under one command.

- It creates a clear chain of command in the Stamford Volunteer Department and Stamford Fire and Rescue Department, which assures operational efficiency during emergency response as well as in administrative operations.

- This proposal assures consistent standards within both departments for training and operations, and it promotes cost efficiencies and better cost management.

- This plan provides the volunteers with a sustainable financial structure via the service fee.

8. When will this proposal get implemented?

The City Charter requires a formal process be followed. There are also several local and state legal requirements to fulfill; we estimate it will take 6-12 months to implement.

Given the legal and fiscal limitations we have to work with, I believe this plan provides the best solution to our current convoluted and inefficient fire department structure. Is it the perfect solution? No. But it is a huge step in the right direction. While there are many special interests who will be advocating their personal points of view, my only interest is making the city safer for all citizens. I believe this plan does that.

Michael A. Pavia is mayor of Stamford.

Stamford Chiefs Support Mayor Pavia’s Fire Plan

On June 3, Mayor Michael Pavia gave us all a glimpse of his leadership and vision when he unveiled his plan to improve the fire protection system in the city of Stamford. Following nearly two decades of disharmony and discord between the city administration and its various fire service providers, Mayor Pavia has accomplished what his predecessors were unable to do -- by calling for the consolidation rather than the dissolution of the volunteer fire departments and the creation of a new fire tax district that will assure a high level of fire protection and a fair imposition of fire taxes citywide. The broad acceptance of this plan among the leadership of both volunteer and career fire departments was clearly demonstrated at that meeting, as the chiefs of four volunteer departments stood side by side with the chief of the city's Stamford Fire & Rescue Department, while the mayor outlined his plan to the public.

The Mayor's Fire Protection Plan will consolidate four of the current five volunteer fire departments into a single entity -- The Stamford Volunteer Fire Department. The new fire department will consist of four fire companies made up of a combination of volunteer and career members. Each of the six fire stations in the department will be staffed by career personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and supported by a cadre of volunteers. The plan also provides for significant administrative and operational changes, which will result in vast improvements in emergency operations, apparatus response, safety and cost efficiency. For example:

1. Career staff will be distributed uniformly throughout the new department. Currently, career staff levels vary greatly -- from zero in the Belltown station and only one per station in Long Ridge, to four in the Springdale station.

2. A career chief will be assigned to the new department to assure the availability of command coverage during the weekdays, when volunteer chiefs are sometimes less available.

3. The career chief will also be responsible for implementing standardized operating procedures for all; consistent and coordinated training for all career and volunteer personnel; consolidated purchasing of supplies, equipment and services for the entire department; improved administrative and reporting processes; and regular coordination with other agencies and city departments.

4. Both volunteer and career members of the department will be trained and certified to the same minimum levels of proficiency per state standards.

5. Performance criteria will be developed and maintained for key metrics such as ongoing training, individual certification/recertification, apparatus response times, volunteer turnout, officer qualifications, preplanning, fire marshal activities, etc.

6. Improved apparatus response patterns will ensure that the nearest, most appropriate fire/rescue units will be assigned and respond to emergency calls regardless of prior fire district boundaries.

7. The new fire department will be sustained by a dedicated fire district tax, which will ensure its continued viability as well as an equitable distribution of fire-related taxes citywide.

As the chiefs of the Long Ridge, Turn of River, Belltown and Springdale fire departments, we welcome Mayor Pavia's plan and applaud his open-mindedness and clear understanding of the issues and needs of our districts. We commit to you -- the taxpayers of Stamford -- to work closely with the mayor and his implementation team to create a fire service that is second to none in the state and that can serve as a model for other combination fire departments nationwide.

Robert Bennett, Frank Jacobellis, John Didelot and Shawn Fahan are the chiefs, respectively, of the Long Ridge, Turn of River, Belltown and Springdale fire departments.

Matthew Maounis: Support Mayor Pavia’s Fire Plan

I want to start out and say, as a Stamford resident and a volunteer in the Turn of River Fire Department, I fully support Mayor Pavia's fire plan.

Before one begins to listen to the rhetoric being thrown about, one needs to look at the facts. The current system put in place by past-Mayor Dan Malloy is not effective and needs to be changed. This plan was implemented under the guise to save $500,000. In reality, it cost taxpayers over $1 million. Training, response and competence of the firefighters in the volunteer districts were never in question. Both the Long Ridge Fire Company and the Turn of River Fire Department have court orders mandating their funding.

The firefighters' union is worried about layoffs, even though the mayor has stated he is not going to lay off anyone. This has to make one wonder why, when Mayor Malloy laid off five firefighters to force in his new plan, the union didn't object, file a lawsuit or even file a grievance? Now it cries foul?

Turn of River was forced to go court, and successfully prevented the laying off of its union firefighters because the union wouldn't protect them. The union is claiming that this is not the time for tax hikes, but two years ago, when Mayor Malloy raised taxes for his fire plan, it didn't say anything. Let us not forget that in the worst of this economic recession, the firefighters' union pushed for, and got, raises. Conclusion: It is OK to hit up the taxpayer when it benefits union needs.

It would appear that the union's concern is that it is losing its grip on the noose that it has had around the taxpayers' throats for the last 10 years under the Malloy administration.

The advantages of this plan far outweigh any negatives. It will resolve over 10 years of legal disputes between the city and the volunteer companies. It consolidates four fire departments into one, cutting down the bureaucracy the city administration has to deal with. It is more cost effective than the current system. It will guarantee standardized training throughout the city. Citizens who live in the district will be elected to the board of the new fire department and have a say in the budgetary process. The financial controls are much greater and more accountable in a fire taxing district.

Currently, residents of the Springdale and Turn of River districts are only guaranteed immediate response from within their own district to a pumper. Belltown residents get guaranteed response from outside of their district. Any other specialty equipment must either come from downtown or may get a delayed response from the volunteer station for the specialty piece needed. Under the new plan each one of those areas is guaranteed an immediate response from a pumper and/or any specialty equipment. If you need a rescue, ladder or tanker it will now be responding from within the new district.

The reality is that the volunteer systems do work. It is a published fact that 92 percent of fire departments in the United States are either volunteer or combination and only 8 percent are fully paid. Keep in mind that the five members of the task force, all resident taxpayers in Stamford, who had no tie to the fire service, did their due diligence and made a recommendation for this plan. Show your support for this plan and contact your representative.

Matthew Maounis is assistant chief of the Turn of River Fire Department.

Frank Maduri: Volunteer Backs Mayor Pavia’s Fire Plan

I am a homeowner in Stamford and volunteer firefighter at Turn of River who would like to express my opinion regarding the recent mayoral announcement. Your paper consistently takes a pro-union/anti-volunteer stance, and does not always represent all the facts, which is not fair.

I first started as a volunteer in 1977, when I was 16 years old. I am extremely happy with our new city administration. Mayor Michael Pavia and his task force has been most reasonable and listened to all parties involved in an attempt to make an intelligent decision that will best protect the citizens of Stamford. This welcome change is quite different from that of his predecessor, who tried to exterminate the volunteer system. The proposed plan represents a new beginning with unified standards, training and operations that will keep our citizens safe. To be clear, it represents the return to a combination department, which is what was in place nearly two years ago, prior to former Mayor Dannel Malloy's failed attempt to consolidate the system.

The Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 786 represents labor, plain and simple. Unions drive up costs, this is a known fact. Among other things, its goal is to increase union presence and diminish the value of any volunteer system. Further, it has declared volunteers to be a "rival" organization. The union has retained a public relations firm in an attempt to degrade the volunteers and push its agenda. They will be unhappy with any plan that has the potential to decrease head count and their economic grip on the city. I personally have no problem with the rank-and-file firefighters we work with every day, and actually have numerous friends in Local 786. It is the union leadership doing their best to degrade a history of proud volunteer service.

Economically, it is important for everyone to volunteer their services in these challenging times, as President Obama has suggested. I take a great sense of pride in serving my community because I enjoy helping people and have no other motive. My job allows me to work remotely, and I often work from the firehouse to provide coverage during the day, when it is most needed. I easily volunteer 20 hours per week of my time. What do I want in return? Nothing, other than proper training, equipment and maybe a simple thank-you every now and then. The new fire tax will go directly to the departments serving the proposed new fire district instead of being used for other purposes. If a union presence was used instead, the costs would be significantly higher. Remember, under union rules, a Stamford Fire & Rescue Department crew operates one piece of equipment -- whether it be an engine, ladder truck or rescue vehicle. They will not "jump" or switch apparatus to respond with the appropriate asset as needed. A union is all about jobs. In my department, for example, based on a four-man crew per machine, it would require 16 firefighters per shift to cover our two stations with an engine in both, and truck and rescue vehicle operating out of one. This excludes a tanker crew, necessary for non-hydrant areas. Multiply this by four shifts and you have 64 personnel for just Turn of River, more than that anticipated under the mayor's plan for all stations. This is why a combination department makes sense. There is always a guaranteed response and the volunteer system allows for additional manpower to respond.

Receiving a paycheck every week does not make someone professional. It has to do with how you act when responding and when on scene with colleagues, superiors and the public, and the level of training and expertise you acquire throughout your career. In my mind, we are professional firefighters who choose to volunteer our services and contribute to our community. In regard to training, we are required to pass the same certifications as career firefighters. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication.

I hope my fellow taxpayers and the Stamford Board of Representatives will support the mayor's plan, which will improve our fire service and public safety for all citizens.

Frank Maduri is a Stamford resident and volunteer firefighter.

TRFD still needs your support to continue to operate effectively!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

(You can VOLUNTEER or GIVE)

We have provided 80 years of continuous fire protection and received ZERO complaints in that time. Should you have any questions you’d like to ask us please send your inquiries to questions@trfd.com.

We are currently looking for volunteers! If you find you are interested in volunteering with us, you may join the ranks of TRFD! Come down to 268 Turn of River Rd. anytime and pick up an application!


TRFD’s department video! This video was put together by Firefighter Kevin Smith and shows different photos of TRFD incidents and drills. Click on the picture to see the 8 MB video! Watch it to see what you could be doing should you decide to join us at Turn of River Fire Department!
Approximate download times: Cable -less than a minute. DSL -just over 2 minutes. 56K dial-up -19 minutes.

Miss Junior Teen New England 2007-2008, Melissa Hoffman, joins Turn of River Firefighters at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center on Maple Sugar Sunday. TRFD Firefighters had just performed an ice-water rescue demonstration within the Museum’s lake. Click on the picture to see a larger image.

TRFD unveils our brand new 2007 HME Heavy Duty Rescue! Meet Rescue #66! This highly anticipated rig has now been officially delivered to Turn of River FD. It is now in service as a first due heavy rescue out of Station One on Turn of River Rd. Rescue #66 responds to all reports of motor vehicle accidents involving injuries, building collapse, and other emergency rescue situations. Keep an eye out for us and remember: Always pull over to the right for activated lights and sirens. Please allow us to get there safely so we can get you to safety!

This is Engine #64! This rig is now in service as the first due apparatus out of Station One on Turn of River Rd. With E64 we are keeping with the black over red paint scheme and it looks sharp! This machine carries a 1000 gallon tank and plenty of top notch equipment. Expect to see this engine out on a roadway near you as it responds to emergencies throughout the Turn of River Fire District.

Structure Fire, 35 Arnold Drive. TRFD’s Engine #63, Engine #61, Tanker #68, Truck#67, along with Belltown FD’s Truck #45, Long Ridge Fire Co.’s Tanker #78, Engine #72, Noroton Heights FD Tanker #22, along with Engine #5 and Engine #7 from the Stamford Fire and Rescue Department battled a difficult basement fire in a recently remodeled home which had already spread to the front and roof of the home prior to our arrival on scene. Click on the picture for further information!

Structure Fire, 72 Barclay Drive. TRFD’s Engine #61 responds along with Engine #63, Truck #67, Tanker #68, as well as Long Ridge Fire Co.’s Engine #71 and Tanker #78, with Belltown Engine #42 as a R.I.T. Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy fire to the rear and roof of the structure. Click on the picture for futher information and pictures!

The Turn of River Fire Department is one of the last fire departments with a dalmation! Meet Ember! She resides at our Station II located at 50 Roxbury Road and is cared for by all of our firefighters. She has been making appearances at parades around the area and simply loves the attention she’s been receiving! Ember loves to play with her numerous toys, loves children, and loves to sleep a bunch!

TRFD’s Engine #62 and Rescue #66 respond to a motor vehicle accident involving a report of a vehicle into a pond in the vicinity of the intersection of Den Road and Doolittle Road. Upon arrival E62 ascertained the vehicle was not in a pond, however, the occupant could not be immediately located. Click on the picture for more details!

TRFD Contact info:
EMERGENCY: Dial 911
Routine business: (203) 322-0943
TRFD Fax Line:  (203) 322-8367

WWW TRFD.com