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Crime & Safety

Monroe Firefighters Battled Fires, Harsh Weather Conditions in 2011

A recap of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department's calls and community involvement over the past year.

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the responded to a total of 609 calls for assistance. The most significant structure fires occurred at the Monroe Professional Building on Monroe Turnpike, a home on , and the on Main Street.

Firefighters handled several other structure fires including a garage at a historic Monroe Turnpike home, a house on Hemlock Lane, and smaller fires involving stoves and appliances, chimneys, furnaces and other electrical equipment.

Firefighters also responded to several dozen motor vehicle accidents and had to extricate multiple crash victims from accidents occurring on Stanley Road and Route 34, following a . The majority of the remaining calls involved activated fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, arcing power lines, car fires, outdoor/brush fires, and spills.

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There were no civilian fire-related deaths or injuries during 2011 and two firefighters were injured. The last civilian fire-related death in Monroe occurred at a Knapp Street home approximately 10 years ago.

The year 2011 presented a host of unusual weather-related challenges for firefighters, starting with the heavy snowfalls in early 2011 that weakened or collapsed the roofs of several structures and forced firefighters to dig out hundreds of fire hydrants after each major storm. Firefighters from Stepney and Monroe quickly extinguished a during the height of a blizzard.

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In March, firefighters were called to protect several homes when heavy flooding occurred on Flint Ridge Road and West Maiden Lane. Firefighters were deluged with calls ranging from electrical issues to car accidents resulting from Hurricane Irene in August and then Storm Alfred in October.

Monroe firefighters assisted with moving several patients, including an injured worker off of the roof of Masuk High school, and assisted the police with searches for a in the Town of Orange during March and in during May.

Firefighters combined for over 3,000 hours of training during 2011, including weekly sessions held on Tuesday nights. They also spent hundreds of hours maintaining their trucks, equipment and stations.

Firefighters were active in fire prevention and awareness activities by to teach over 700 children, hosting its annual open house and safety day which was attended by over 250 people, participating in the pre-prom held for students, and by issuing several media releases about fire safety tips.

Monroe firefighters were active in numerous community events by participating in the for the Connecticut Special Olympics, the race, the at Masuk, the Connecticut 9-11 on Main Street, and several 9-11 10th anniversary ceremonies. Firefighters also hosted several cub scout group visits and assisted an Eagle Scout with his .

The Monroe Fire Department is staffed entirely by volunteers who respond from their homes or jobs to the firehouses on Route 110 and Jockey Hollow Road when a call is received. There are approximately 45 active volunteer firefighters who are certified by the State of Connecticut Fire Academy. The 10 volunteers who responded to the most number of calls during 2011 were: Bill Davin, George Lattanzi, Josh Krize, Dennis Cassia, John Lombardi, Kevin Catalano, Jon Brown, Harry Whitcher, Justin Lombardi and Kim Cassia.

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