Fire HQ Dedicated Amid 9/11 Memories

The dedication of Branford’s impressive new fire headquarters stitched together history, tradition and sorrow for the brotherhood of firefighters and paramedics who perished 11 years ago today following the al Qaeda hijacked plane attacks on the World Trade Center.

Hundreds of Branford families, town officials and department heads and members of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) came for the special ribbon cutting at the impressive new building at 45 North Main Street. The ceremony went off without a hitch. William Hackett, State Emergency Management Director, served as the MC. Here is the scene from atop a fire truck.

The dedication took place on Saturday, Sept. 8. Not far from anyone’s mind were the 343 New York City firemen and paramedics who died on Sept. 11 trying to save others trapped in the twin towers after the attacks. The Branford High School Music Makers sang the National Anthem.

One of the most moving moments of the dedication came when Joseph E. Higgins, Jr. a retired NYC firefighter and Branford resident, presented Fire Chief Jack Ahern with a framed piece of steel recovered the World Trade center grounds. In all 343 New York firemen and paramedics were killed that day.

“This piece of steel represents a lot to me. I was there…It represents a part of me. The fire service is not just a job; it is a family. That is what we are all about. This piece of steel represents all too much tragedy and it also represents the hallmark tradition of uncommon valor, of each and every firefighter.”

Then Chief Ahern opened a white box and removed the framed piece of steel. ​“This represents three days from now, a day we will never forget. Certainly I will never forget.” (See photo above.)

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro described the ​“bravest” by quoting author Kurt Vonnegut: ​“I can think of no more stirring symbol of man’s humanity to man than a fire engine.” She went on: ​“Each day you must be ready to perform under intense pressure literally in life or death situations to protect us. I am humbled by your courage and your selflessness.”

At that point, her mind turned to World Trade Center attacks. ​“Who can ever forget Sept. 11? When we watched our firefighters walk up into the towers while trying to move people down to get out. So many perished that day doing their job.”

Rev. Christopher M. Ford of St. Mary’s Church observed that his church has twice fallen victim to fire in its long history. He said until 9 – 11 most people took firemen for granted. ​“It was then that we were really enlightened , really enlightened about what they are really about — their skills, their courage and their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the common good, for us, he said to the line of uniformed firefighters standing near him. In front is Amanda Mark, the department’s first paid female firefighter. 

About 250 people gathered for the ceremony under hot, humid skies. They smiled as a short parade made its way into the area. There were the Second Company Governor’s Foot guard, now based in Branford and the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps.

The New Haven Emerald Society bagpipers were front and center.

Other fire officials attended the ceremony, including East Haven Fire Chief Douglas F. Jackson.

Everyone stood for the honor guard and the presentation of the flags.

Here is another view. 

The firefighters stood at attention next to the ladder truck and for this occasion they were joined by Linda Giammattei, the department’s administrative assistant, long acknowledged as the backbone of the department. 

The old firehouse, built 50 years ago and demolished this summer to make way for the new fire headquarters parking lot, was never far from anyone’s minds. This was also a moment in history for a department nearly 200 years old. Here is Chief Jack Ahern with one of the earliest fire trucks, a restored 1953 Ford Maxim from Branford’s old Engine Co. 8.

Matt LaCroix, son of Fire Commissioner David LaCroix, told the audience he made the old firehouse his project in second grade. 

“I would like to present my project and model of the old fire house to the firefighters. so you can remember it and enjoy your old headquarters. I hope you enjoy it and stay safe.”

Chief Ahern held Matt’s project high for everyone to see. It was the hit of the day.

First Selectman Unk DaRos told the audience that when he served as chair of the Branford Fire Commission 25 years ago. ​“we knew we needed a new building. Even back then.” He noted that the fire department is now a round-the-clock medical service. ​“A town our size runs four ambulances and they are going round the clock. And we now have paramedic capabilities. We are really far advanced from most towns. The other building was modern for its day but it was built for its day.”

DaRos read a note from State Rep. Lonnie Reed. It said that Reed was in Lexington, Kentucky, where she is representing the state as a Toll Fellow, a program for 40 state leaders from across the nation.

She wrote: ​“I vividly remember my first tour of the old firehouse years ago when I was newly elected to the RTM. I was shocked that our firefighters and emergency medical professionals were living in uninhabitable circumstances. I was stunned to see that chronic roof leaks were threatening our vital communications systems and that the garage was too small to protect our valuable fleets of fire trucks and ambulances.”
Click here to read a 2008 story about the deplorable condition of the firehouse just torn down.

She acknowledged the long haul of the project, saying it took ​“hard work and persistence of lots of smart and responsible members of our community,” to achieve it…

Janice Plaziak, the town engineer who chaired the building committee, won the praises of the chief and all in the department in her determination to see the project emerge. We asked her to recall the worse moment for her in the long process. 

“It was the night of the RTM meeting,” she said, recalling the meeting of Sept. 15, 2010.

Initially it appeared there was consensus among the 30-members. The Republicans, led by Frank Twohill, told the RTM Democrats, who hold the majority, that they agreed there should be a new firehouse, but then it became clear that the Republicans would not approve the $600,000 it would take to move the public works garage off the site so that the new fire headquarters could, in fact, be built.

Sandra Reiners, then the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, told the packed meeting that ​“holding the fire station hostage to this public works building is not in the public’s interest.”

Reiners said no bids could go out for the fire department, and they were expected to do so, unless it is for a specific site. Plaziak agreed. Unless the $600,000 was approved for a public works rental, the new firehouse could not be put out for bid. ​“We cannot bid the project if we cannot actually construct it,” Plaziak explained to the crowd. That did it. Click here to read about the meeting.

Chief Ahern told the audience that ​“this is more than a just a fire house. It is a community center, a training facility and a place of business.” He praised the abilities of his men and women fire fighters and para medics. ​“Our paramedics face life and death decisions on a daily basis. They can provide nearly every medication and technique offered at the most advanced trauma center, from taking blood pressure to using a drill to obtain an IV in your bone.” They provide, he said, an ​“advanced life support delivery system.”

Deputy Chief Ronald Mullen, whose father served as chief of the department, grew up on Toole Drive, as did Ahern. As kids they played with their fire trucks, trying to emulate rescues. Sometimes they invited Shaun Heffernan, now the Fire Marshall, into their game. In the audience Mullen’s young son Cash heard this story.

Mullen, the keynote speaker, has been waiting for a new fire house since following in his dad’s footsteps he joined the department some 30 years ago, when he was 19. ​“The wheels of progress truly spin slowly and in this fire department I have often wondered if our wheels of progress were square in shape.”

He acknowledged that many in the community believe the building is far too grand. “The fire department doesn’t need this building, you are right but if you are a citizen of Branford, you need this building” as he and others explained the many functions the department now serves. 

Much has been written about the environmental advances of the new building. State Sen. Ed Meyer, the chair of the Environmental Committee, told the audience “you have built an environmental friendly building like no other in the state of Connecticut and probably like none other in the country. This system is remarkable.”

The building generates its own electricity, has a 58 ton geo-thermal heating and cooling system, has 27 geo-thermal wells, each 500 feet deep, De Lauro noted as she said the plan had already generated a $100,000 in a federal renewable energy rebate.

The building also has 111 solar panels for solar energy and 117 windows, not one of which opens. Chief Mullen told the crowd: “On a clear sunny day you can find Chief Ahern out back at 2 p.m. checking to see if the power meter is spinning backwards, which means we are selling power back to CL&P.”

There is a tradition if a firefighter dies. It is five bell strikes repeated in four series. It is called ​“striking the four-five.” It fell to Captain Timothy Judd to strike the four-five in memory of all department firefighters who have served the town of Branford and across the nation.”

Rev. Sharon Gracen (see photo below) of Trinity Episcopal Church led the department in a litany based on the blessing of a home. She described it as a virtual blessing, acknowledging all the elements of the building: Doors, apparatus bay, day rooms and kitchen, living quarters and sleeping rooms, administrative offices. community rooms and the building itself.

Rev. and Mrs. Charles Woodie of St. Stephen’s AME Zion Church offered a truly amazing version of ​“Amazing Grace;” the audience was encouraged to sing along at the last verse. 

Then members of the building committee, board of selectmen, board of fire commissioners gathered as a fire burning ribbon was ignited severing two photos, one of the old firehouse and one ( by our photographer Mary Johnson) symbolizing the birth of the new one.

But who knew that Chief Ahern would find himself having to blow out the fire!

Afterwards fire officials invited the community in small groups to share refreshments and tour the new firehouse.

While hungry and thirsty attendees lined up for hotdogs, chili and clam chowder, others were led by fire department members on a tour of the building. The new headquarters is spacious, well equipped, and state-of-the-art mechanically, but not extravagant. The walls are painted cement block and the floors are poured concrete. The sleeping quarters are almost spartan with a single bed, nightstand and lamp within each small cubicle with low walls. A large room stored all the firemen’s gear – the familiar coats and helmets – in open closets, labeled with their names. Someone mentioned they smelled smoky. The kids were delighted to try on the gear under the watchful eyes of a department member.

It looks to be home for the fire department – walls are covered with photographs, mementos and citations.

And the model of the 1962 firehouse, made by second-grader Matt LaCroix, already had a place of honor in the day room/kitchen area where everyone gathers.

Sally E. Bahner contributed reporting for this story. 

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