Crime & Safety

Deputy Fire Marshal Retires After 8 Years On the Job

Gary Zaleta, who has 47 years experience as a firefighter, plans to move to North Carolina.

Richard Gregory, a state police officer in the fire marshal division, was driving on Main Street in Monroe on the morning of November 3, 2010, when the site of the Skate Time building engulfed in flames caught his eye. The alarm sounded at 11:17 and Monroe's deputy fire marshal, Gary R. Zaleta, was eight minutes away.

A 25-year-old woman living in an apartment inside the building discovered the fire when she looked up through the vent for the ceiling fan in her bathroom and saw an orangish-pink glow.

"Rich and I got the girl out," Zaleta recalled.

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It was difficult waiting for the first fire trucks on the scene, but Zaleta's investigations begin long before firefighters arrive.

"As soon as I get a phone call, my mind gets going on the way there," he said.

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The longtime firefighter ponders questions that come in rapid fire fashion, "How many trucks are there?" "Are they going to have enough water to put the fire out?" "What color was the smoke?"

The color of the smoke usually reveals what is burning. Burn marks on the walls lead to the fire's point of origin.

"Every fire tells a story," said Zaleta, 61. "It's like reading a book."

The Skate Time fire, which closed down Main Street for most of that fateful day, was the most memorable call in Zaleta's eight-year-career as deputy fire marshal — a career that came to an end on Thursday.

Monroe Town Hall employees had cake in the kitchen and First Selectman Steve Vavrek gave Zaleta a proclamation on a plaque proclaiming it Gary R. Zaleta Day.

"It's nice to know you're appreciated. They didn't work me too hard," Zaleta said with a laugh.

Zaleta has three grown children, sons, Chris and Jesse, who are Monroe volunteer firefighters, and daughter, Stephanie, who is pursuing a career in criminal justice. The Shelton resident had lived in Monroe for close to 25 years.

Zaleta had retired from the Fairfield Fire Department in 2004, as a professional firefighter of 30 years. He is also a longtime member for the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department. All told, he has been a firefighter for 47 years.

"I enjoyed working here, the friendships and the small-town community," Zaleta said. "I'll miss the camaraderie of working closely with the state and local police, the state fire marshal's office and with surrounding towns."

He also enjoyed working with Fire Marshal Bill Davin, Monroe Fire Department spokesperson Kevin Catalano and the rest of Monroe's Bravest.

"Everyone pitches in and works together to get the job done," Zaleta said.

Zaleta said he will miss assisting with the Boot Drive and interacting with members of the Women's Auxiliary, which holds an annual Supper with Santa to raise funds for the fire department.

Investigating Fires

"When I was getting ready to retire from Fairfield, I thought, 'What am I going to do?'" Zaleta recalled. "I have all this fire experience, so I went to school for state certification as a fire marshal, which includes fire investigations, HazMat, and fire code inspections."

Zaleta said fire marshals also inspect cargo trucks to make sure hoses are not frayed.

He completed his training at the Public Safety Division in Middletown. In 2004, the town of Monroe had openings for a fire marshal and a deputy fire marshal. Bill Davin was hired as fire marshal that March and Zaleta as his deputy the following month.

"He's been an asset to the department, because he was really reliable working as a part-timer," Davin said of Zaleta.

Two other deputy fire marshals work part-time for the town. Because Zaleta has been retired, Davin said he could depend on him to be available to work three days a week.

Zaleta had also worked for Thomas J. Russo Consultants of Connecticut, a firm that investigates fires for insurance companies, from 2003 to 2010.

"We worked for insurance companies from Manhattan to Maine," he said.

Fire Prevention

While the most publicized part of a Fire Marshal's Office's responsibility is fire investigations, Zaleta said teaching fire prevention in town schools during Fire Prevention Week in October is one of its most important functions.

"It's important to reach the children, because it's through the children that you reach adults," Zaleta said. "Mom goes through everything Johnny brings home."

Monroe's fire companies give presentations to the schools and all three — Monroe, Stepney and Stevenson — host open houses for the public with safety demonstrations.

"We tell children not to play with matches and, 'Don't smoke,'" Zaleta said, noting that cigarettes are the number one cause of fires with candles coming in at number two.

Saving a Life

Learning first aid and CPR as a member of the Boy Scouts growing up sparked Zalata's interest in being a firefighter.

"I was always interested in helping people," he said.

Zaleta served as a Navy foreman during the Vietnam War and took the test to become a firefighter when he came home in 1977. He also trained to become an emergency medical technician.

One thing that stands out to Zaleta is improvements in medical and firefighting equipment over the years. He said firefighters only started extricating trapped drivers and passengers out of cars following motor vehicle accidents in the late '70s.

"You're not just on an engine waiting for a fire," Zaleta said of the modern firefighter. "You're on medical. You go out. You have the satisfaction of coming home and thinking, 'Jeez, I saved a life today."

Then Zaleta smiled and added, "Of course, you also respond to calls of keys being locked in a car."


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