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New Canaan Fire Department Fact Sheet

January 2015

Page | 1

Mission Statement

The mission of the New Canaan Fire Co. No. 1 since 1881 is to protect life, property and the environment

from fire and other emergencies, using our well trained personnel in a timely manner, and to be ever

vigilant and prepared for changes in our community.

Vision Statement

We, the members of the New Canaan Fire Co. No. 1, are committed to the following values in our

interactions with co-workers and the Town:

Professionalism – In work habits, appearance and attitude

Integrity – Demonstrate honesty, fairness and ethical behavior

Accountability – Professionally, personally and fiscally responsible for our actions

Respect – For the public, each other, and our Company

Compassion – Demonstrate kindness and empathy

Diversity – Be open minded and responsive to our community without regard to age, gender,

religion or ethnic origin

Teamwork – Encourage unity and a cooperative attitude

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Departmental Goals

SHORT TERM GOALS (1 year)

Maintain current level of service to the Town of New Canaan

Improve administrative efficiencies

Maintain equipment in operational condition

Maintain Firehouse in a safe and functional condition

Develop the regional dispatch center with our partners from Westport to improve public safety for

the Town of New Canaan and our partners

Implement the mobile data terminal (MDT) program with regional partners to improve operations

and safety.

INTERMEDIATE GOALS (2-4 years)

Continue short term goals

Maintain a dynamic volunteer component

Replace Engine 4 with a compliant pumper and dispose of Engine 11 (reserve)

Continue water supply improvement initiative to improve public protection

Continue investigating regional initiatives to improve service and reduce capital expense

Upgrade data in MDT system to improve operations

LONG TERM GOALS (5-10 years)

Continue Intermediate goals

Replace Engine 2 with a compliant pumper, dispose of Engine 2

Upgrade or replace capital equipment as required

2014 Significant Activities

New pumper in service

Firehouse renovation completed

Implemented the regional fire dispatch in

Westport

New mutual aid radio system in service

New SCBA compressor /cascade system

installed

Hired 2 replacement firefighters to fill

vacancies

Promoted a captain and lieutenant to fill

vacancies

Page | 3

Personnel

The New Canaan Fire Department is a combination service, and has two components; career personnel

who are employees of the Town of New Canaan and the volunteer New Canaan Fire Company #1.

There are currently approximately 35 volunteers proudly serving the Fire Company and 25 career

personnel employed by the Town.

Staffing

The firehouse is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with 6 career firefighters augmented by all

available volunteers. The career personnel are divided into 4 groups that work an average 42 hours per

week. Each group is commanded by a captain and he is assisted by a lieutenant plus 4 firefighters. We

are able to get 2 trucks on the road at one time with on-duty personnel and maintain the OSHA

mandated “2 in 2 out” regulation in hazardous atmospheres. Additional trucks are operated by volunteer

personnel or off-duty callback career firefighters. The career Fire Chief works Monday – Friday during

normal business hours and is on call 24/7.

Callback

Off-duty career personnel are eligible for callback for specific incident types. Most callback incidents

require more than the on-duty and volunteer personnel can handle. At times when additional personnel

may be needed off-duty personnel are requested to report to the firehouse. The callback schedule has

been significantly reduced to reduce overtime expense, reducing off-duty response by career personnel.

Callback Incident include:

Structure fires or possible structure fires

Second alarm incidents

Mutual aid to other towns

Major hazardous materials incidents

Special call for additional personnel

Page | 4

Fleet

Engine 2

1997 Pumper

Service Life 20 years

Scheduled Replacement: 2012

Disposal Date: 2017

Ladder 3

2003 Ladder truck



Disposal Date: 2028

Engine 4

2000 Pumper



Disposal Date: 2020

Engine 1

2014 Pumper



Disposal Date: 2016

Page | 5

Engine 11

1996 Pumper

Reserve Status

Scheduled Disposal: 2016

Disposal Date: 2016

Rescue 5

2001 Rescue



Disposal Date: 2026

Tanker 8

2007 Pumper/Tanker



Disposal Date: 2032

Utility 1

2007 Pick-Up truck


or 100,000 miles (estimate 2022)


Page | 6

Incident Response

The New Canaan Fire Department responded to 1,040 incidents in 2014.

Types:

Fires = 46

Overpressure/Explosion = 1

Rescue, Medical = 103

Hazardous Conditions = 137

Service Calls = 186

Good Intent Calls = 100

Severe Weather = 3

Alarm Activations where there was no fire = 464

Manpower Response 2014:

The average personnel response was 7 firefighters per incident.

FIRE 4%

RESCUE, MEDICAL

10%

HAZARDOUS CONDITION

13%

SERVICE CALL 18%

GOOD INTENT 10%

FALSE ALARM 45%

SEVERE WEATHER

0%

2014 Incident Responses

Page | 7

10-Year Historical:

The number of responses made annually by the fire department.

Calendar year Statistics:

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

FIRE 64 63 80 69 78 53 46

OVERPRESSURE, EXPLOSION 3 4 4 4 1 4 1

RESCUE, MEDICAL 66 72 80 89 90 108 103

HAZARDOUS CONDITION 194 171 226 211 216 146 137

SERVICE CALL 86 96 124 137 100 125 186

GOOD INTENT 56 54 74 74 108 92 100

FALSE ALARM 490 423 495 541 439 371 464

SEVERE WEATHER 5 3 20 3 52 1 3

SPECIAL INCIDENT 1 0 4 2 0 0 0

TOTAL 965 965 1,107 1,130 1,084 900 1,040

1019 1065 1022

965

866

1107 1130 1084

900

1040

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Year2005

Year2006

Year2007

Year2008

Year2009

Year2010

Year2011

Year2012

Year2013

Year2014

Calls

Page | 8

TRAINING

Training Plan:

The fire department has an annual training plan. The topic covered this year include: driver training,

pump operation, ladders, breathing equipment, emergency medical, vehicle extrication, water supply,

ropes and knots, tanker operations, hazardous materials, forcible entry, hoseline advancement, cold

water rescue, fire extinguishers, building ventilation, power equipment, firefighter safety, building

construction, foam, and building preplans. Emergency medical certifications require recertification

every two years.

The career staff trains daily, the volunteer membership trains weekly. Personnel will also travel to other

local fire departments, regional training facilities in Fairfield and Stamford and the Connecticut Fire

Academy in Windsor Locks for specialized training. Members are also encouraged to attend regional

and national seminars and training events.

Requirements:

Federal and State law

have requirements for

firefighter training. The

constitution and by-

laws of the Fire

Company and the

Union Labor

Agreement also have

training requirements.

Page | 9

Certifications:

State of Connecticut Certifications held by NCFD personnel:

Firefighter I = 41

Firefighter II = 39

Firefighter III = 5

Fire Instructor I = 25

Fire Instructor II = 6

Fire Instructor III= 2

Pump Operator = 29

Aerial Operator = 8

Tanker Operator = 13

Hazardous Materials Technician = 4

Rescue Technician = 9

Fire Officer I = 23

Fire Officer II = 16

Fire Officer III = 3

Fire Officer IV = 2

Safety Officer = 16

Medical Response Technician = 16

Emergency Medical Technician = 14

Total number of State certifications in 1/2015= 234*

*Each member can hold multiple certifications.

Multi Agency Training:

Fire, Police and

Ambulance Corps

regularly train together

so we can perform better

together in time of crisis.

Page | 10

WATER SUPPLY

Municipal Hydrant system

There are three separate municipal hydrant systems supplying firefighting water in New Canaan.

Aquarian

First District Water Company of Norwalk

Second District Water Company of Norwalk

The fire department inspects each municipal hydrant annually to make sure the hydrant is operational in the

event of a fire emergency. The water company is responsible for flow testing of hydrants to quantify the

amount of water that is available from each hydrant.

Dry Hydrants and Cisterns

Most of the structures in the Town of New Canaan are outside of the area covered by one of the municipal

water systems. Over the years supplemental water sources have been installed with private and tax monies.

Currently there are 26 dry hydrants and 9 fire cisterns (underground tanks) in New Canaan. Each of these is

inspected twice annually to ensure proper operation.

Improvements:

Capital funds are allocated annually to water supply for firefighting improvements. These funds are used to

install new dry hydrants, cisterns and repair existing non-hydrant infrastructure. The Fire Department along

with the Fire Marshals office continuously is seeking sites for the installation dry and municipal fire

hydrants and cisterns.

New installation in

progress at Mill Pond

on Millport Ave during

semi-annual pond

dredging

Page | 11

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Fire Prevention Week

On-site visits to all local schools; each primary school in Town is visited and a presentation is made

to large groups of students. Every year, presentations were made at local schools during the month of

October.

Open House

Demonstrations of equipment and skills put on by the volunteer fire company every other October

Community Organizations

Presentations were made to local civic groups including the Lions Club, Senior Mens’ Club, the

Red Cross, and the Kiwanis

South School Historic Tour

The fourth grade at South School has an annual historic tour of New Canaan. One of their regular

stops is the firehouse. Each year over one hundred students are taught about the history of the New

Canaan Fire Company as it relates to the Town of New Canaan.

CERT Training

Instructors from the Fire Company assist the CERT team with training new members. CERT

training related to fire emergencies is taught by firefighters at the firehouse.

Memorial Day Parade

At the conclusion of the annual parade, the fire company invites the towns’ people back to the

firehouse for refreshments. Public safety and education information is available along with hot dogs, ice

cream and soft drinks.

Twitter:

675+ followers on Twitter which we post public safety information and news accounts of the New

Canaan Fire Department (@NCFDCT)

Page | 12

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

The Fire Department is an active participant in the Town Emergency Operations Center (EOC). We assist

with staffing the EOC, which is set up at the police station, and have personnel in the field assisting

property owners and residents with their emergencies. The Firehouse is used as an emergency distribution

point for water and food. Hundreds on man-hours are provided during each crisis to assist with safety,

continuity of operations and recovery for the Town of New Canaan.

Page | 13

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

The most difficult aspect of operating a volunteer/combination organization is recruiting and retaining

competent personnel.

Volunteer membership (01/2015):

Currently there are 36 active volunteer members on our roster.

The average volunteer longevity in the department is 6.3 years.

Our most senior volunteer member has 37 years of active service.

Recruitment program:

Advertising in local media

Members recruiting friends for membership

Literature is distributed at community events

Safety clothing and equipment provided at no cost

No cost firefighting training and education

In house gym facility

Page | 14

Retention program:

No cost training and educational opportunities

Hands-on experience

Promotional opportunities

Equipment replacement and upgrades

Workers Compensation insurance coverage

Awards program

Social events

No cost Locust Lot parking permit

Discounted pool pass for Waveny

Page | 15

Volunteer Firefighter Retention Challenges: 1

Retention of volunteer firefighters is a substantial concern for the fire service. It is estimated that the

national retention average of volunteer firefighters is approximately four years per person, per department.

When recruiting volunteer firefighters, the fire department will spend approximately $4,000 per person in

orienting, equipping and training those recruits.

Retention of volunteer firefighters is a complex issue with a number of variables that can contribute to the

lack of longevity. In 1993, the consulting firm Tri-Data, on behalf of the United States Fire Administration

(USFA), conducted a national study titled Retention and Recruitment in the Volunteer Fire Service,

Problems and Solutions. The study was assembled with input from volunteer departments across the

country.

The following areas were identified as major issues affecting retention of volunteer firefighters:

• Volunteers face increased demands from the fire department stemming from the increase in

emergency response calls, the need for ongoing training and the increasing need to undertake

specialized training.

• Demands on the volunteer’s time are also increasing away from the fire department as families

struggle to balance the career and family obligations of today’s two-income families.

• Many of those who volunteer for the fire department do so in order to improve their employability.

A volunteer fire department will provide training at no cost. This training can then be used to obtain

a full-time position within the profession.

• The lack of a comprehensive benefit and incentive program. Benefits are necessary to protect the

livelihood of the volunteer and his or her family in the event the volunteer suffers a significant

injury or dies while on duty, while incentives are designed to recognize their personal achievements

and to motivate them to improve their skills and participation.

• Finally, the lack of quality local leadership within the fire department is cited as the most

significant problem to retaining volunteer firefighters. Echoing the sentiment of that finding, it is

the opinion of the contributing authors that ineffective leadership will doom an otherwise excellent

organization. Sound management practices have the potential to significantly enhance retention

rates.

1 “A Call for Action The Blue Ribbon Report Preserving and Improving the Future of the Volunteer Fire

Service”: International Association of Fire Chiefs; Volunteer Section: March 2004

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