Charlie Having Fun . by Jack Ahern

Branford Fire Department
45 North Main St.
Branford, CT 06405

ANNUAL REPORT

JULY 1, 2005 – JUNE 30, 2006

The mission of The Branford Fire Department is to provide the services necessary to minimize the loss of life and/or property threatened by the hazards of the fire, explosions, medical, chemical, and rescue related emergencies, through fire suppression, code enforcement, and conscientious prevention and education.

The focus of the Mission Statement and a strategic planning effort shall be used to determine what services and the level of delivery which the Department shall provide as a minimum to its taxpayers and guests visiting the community. The potential services cover a wide range of hazards and delivery parameters.

The Branford Board of Fire Commissioners meets the last Thursday of the month at the Canoe Brook Senior Center. Meetings are conducted by the Chairman Robert Massey Jr. In addition the Commission has several committees which oversee apparatus, emergency medical services, finance and buildings.

The department is directed by Chief John J. Ahern and his staff consists of one (1) full time Assistant Chief, two (2) Volunteer Assistant Chief’s four career (4) Deputy Chiefs, twenty nine (29) career firefighters, and one (1) administrative assistant. The Department is also supplemented by approximately 50 highly trained volunteers.

Call volume for the year was 5201 calls, including eighty (86) structure fires, thirty two (31) vehicle fires, and eleven (19) brush fires. The balance of the call volume was largely medical emergencies and various other types of service calls. Overall call volume increased by 1% over the previous year.

Our budget projections and expectations met the goals and objectives put forth by the Fire Commission. The addition of two more daytime firefighters increased our ability to provide crucial services during these busy hours of the day. Implementation of additional hours on a third ambulance also increased our ability to meet the demands of our Emergency Medical Services.

The Fire Department took delivery of a new ambulance this year and at the same time embarked on a new way of approaching future purchases of these vehicles. The new ambulance was built with replacement in mind, meaning the “box” portion of the ambulance can simply be re-used. While the initial costs for such a vehicle are more the overall savings to the Town will realized in upcoming replacements.

The Department is continuing to work towards our goal of a new Fire Headquarters. A feasibility report was recently made to the Board of Finance and the building committee continues to work towards the ultimate goal of a new fire station.

The Fire Marshal’s Office continues to inspect and maintain a high level of safety for all public buildings. The office also investigates and reports all fires into the national fire incident data base. The department is fortunate to have a total of nine (7) State certified Marshals’ all of whom continue to enhance their training and fulfill the obligations of their appointment. This office continues to aggressively enforce the fire code and works closely with the State Attorneys office in prosecuting offenders. The Fire Marshal’s Office continues to be very proactive and is now working more closely with other town regulatory agencies to ensure the safety of the public.

Our Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are easily the busiest group in our department responding to about two thirds of all of our calls. Our Paramedic Ambulance service is among the best in the State and continues to be envied by many municipalities. The taxpayers of Branford can rest assured that these individuals are highly trained and continue to provide the best service possible twenty four hours a day.

Our fire prevention program continues to run in high gear. The fire prevention trailer is in constant demand by the schools and various civic organizations and has also been loaned to other area departments. The ultimate goal of the department is to prevent fires through awareness and education. This year two new ordinances were passed by the RTM, one which mandates “lock boxes” at all commercial establishments, and the other requires the proper maintenance of all hydrants throughout the Town.

The Board of Fire Commissioners and the Chief’s office are very proud of our entire staff and applaud their commitment to excellence. Our members continue to strive to meet the goals and objectives of our mission statement and have become a highly regarded department throughout the State. The Branford Fire Department stands ready to serve the citizens of Branford with highly trained and dedicated people committed to protect our community.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________ ____________________________
Robert J. Massey Jr., Chairman             John J. Ahern, Chief