Main Sections

Middlebury Fire Department Grows With The Times

Tuesday February 14, 2012

By Marcie Bolton

Organized fire protection in Middlebury is nearly two centuries old with the Middlebury Fire Department (MFD) originally structured in 1829.  The Middlebury Fire Society had 2 companies under its umbrella; The Battell Hose Co. #3, and the Washington Engine Company.  In the 1800s, every home owner was required to have at hand a bucket hook, a ladder capable of reaching the eaves of the house and barn, and also a 10 quart leather pail.  In 1846 under the rules and regulations of fire bylaws passed at a meeting of the corporation of the Village of Middlebury the following people agreed to organize a fire company to be known as the Middlebury Fire Co. # 1.  It was torn down in 1934 to make way for the present post office.  In 1932 the current building was created.  Forty four years later, in 1978, under Chief Keeler, the building underwent the last expansion.  Today, 34 years later, after having performed a facilities assessment on Stations One & Two, (Seymour Street and East Middlebury respectively) the station committee concluded that a combination of adding onto, renovating, and rebuilding was the most cost effective option to further their ability to protect and serve the Middlebury community.

The Fire Department is hoping to win the $4.8 million dollar bond vote on Town Meeting Day, March 6, 2012, to gain approval for another much needed expansion.  “We are in our 29th month of planning and are like an expectant parent.  We have crossed every t and dotted every i. ” Dave Shaw, Assistant Fire Chief, explains of the time and care that went into planning the changes.  They thoroughly weighed options whether or not to move to new quarters or stay and work on the facility, and the best option was to stay.  Station two, or the East Middlebury fire station, needs major updating and station one or the Seymour Street headquarters needs an expansion and renovation.  MFD has an option to purchase a section of Seymour Street land just south of station one.  The use of this land, after a small cottage is removed, will give the fire station the room to expand to the 8100 square feet it needs.  Those square feet will include a single-story, four-bay addition.  Right now garage space for the fire trucks is an extremely tight fit.  The aerial truck has only a half of an inch between it and the entrance door.  Every microgram of snow has to be removed from the entranceway and the 68 thousand pound truck’s tire pressure has to be correct before putting the vehicle away.  

The current space is also extremely confined and dangerous for the 18-20 firemen who jockey for space when responding to calls, gearing up and maneuvering amongst the moving fire engines in the apparatus bays.  The floor which the fire trucks rest upon, under the extreme weight is rapidly deteriorating. The water is migrating into the concrete.  There is no sprinkler system or fire alarm in this building.  East Middlebury is the same way.  Three quarters of the fleet in Middlebury proper and one quarter in East Middlebury have no fire protection.  Ironic that those who protect our community everyday from the perils of fire are not protected themselves.  

These building give space to the 35 members of the Middlebury Fire Department.  On average MFD members have fifteen years experience with the most senior member having 37 years under his belt.  Current officers are Chief Rick Cole, Assistant Chief Dave Shaw and Myron Selleck, Captains are David Broughton, Ryan Emilio, Mike Farnsworth, Pat Shaw, and Paul Garrow.  Lieutenants are Mike Bougor and Matthew Stone.

The MFD is always looking to expand their company with new volunteers.  There are many ways to help with five different levels of membership.  High school students are welcome and encouraged to apply, starting at 16 years of age.  Hours logged may count toward their community service requirements for high school.    “We follow the same priority guidelines as the high school as far as academics coming first.  Sports commitments are second and then the fire department hours.  We don’t allow cadets on the property after 10 p.m. and we don’t allow them to bring pagers to school,” Dave Shaw says.  Training is minimal at the high school level.  Yet for more mature members who want to become fully involved, in order to be Firefighter One certified, specifically in Middlebury, one must commit to 200 hours of service hours which must be completed in 18 months. Today, within other departments in Addison County, many firefighters coming in have approximately 3 years to complete this program.  There are different levels of association with a fire department as well.  It is not an all or nothing endeavor to join one of the seventeen fire departments in Addison County.   

Ongoing training is a part of keeping current to the ever changing safety and procedural practices. As a whole it is a major priority of the MFD to keep abreast of new procedures and protocols.  Back when Myron Selleck and Dave Shaw started in 1980, there was a 40 hour requirement to become a firefighter after taking a core program called Firefighter One.  It is a huge commitment which consists of hazmat, first aid and everything in between.  For many people it is a huge deterrent, yet the catch is that even though the there is a large amount of training hours necessary in order to be certified, it is essential that people are educated.   In the past two years a pilot on-line training program began in the Vermont.  It is convenient for people to complete much of the training on line.  

As far as the MFD responding to different types of calls, it is important to know different members hold different types of certifications.  Dave Shaw explains; “We are a supportive roll for car accidents.  While some members are certified in extrication, we do not own extrication tools.  We assist Middlebury Rescue Squad in that department.  Specifically trained members of our technical rescue team do swift water rescue and ice rescue.  Within high and low angle rescue, we have a very active group specially trained in that area.”   While responding to dangerous situations is a part of daily life, Dave Shaw explains, “taking care of the customer and taxpayers by maximizing tax dollars is a high priority for everyone at the department.  Ultimately we are the customer as well, being taxpayers.  Proof is in way we operate.”    

When asked about how Middlebury has changed and evolved over the past decades in regards to fire prevention and planning Dave Shaw mentioned the big growth areas such as the Lodge at Otter Creek, Eastview and the massive growth and big structures at the college.  Those have made a huge impact on the fire department overall.  Last year the MFD responded to 217 calls compared to 40 calls thirty years ago. 

“We don’t run sirens at night; we try to be good neighbors.  We can drive by your home in the middle of the night [on the way to a fire] and drive back to the station, wash the truck and put it to bed and no one knows we were out.  Most of the Middlebury taxpayers do not know we were out to 217 calls in 2011.  As of mid-January, we have been to 35 calls already.”  On average, 18-20 firemen respond to each call.    

Firefighters are extensively trained in many areas today.  They put out all different types hazardous fires that threaten people and property.  Rescuing people from precarious areas such as a fall into icy waters, charging into burning buildings and other such situations makes for quite hazardous working conditions.  Firefighters serve the community and are often underappreciated and underpaid.  Simply put, they truly deserve to be thanked for dedicating their lives to keep us safe.

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives