18th Annual CSFA Hall of Fame Induction Dinner (April 2, 2026)
Sandy Hook VFR members were among the 500+ people at this year’s CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner.
News
Back To Basics: Chainsaw Training (Monday, March 23, 2026)
Sandy Hook VFR welcomed Mission CIT instructors Eric and Justin for an evening training session.
Members broke into two groups, with one session focused on chainsaws and the other going over roof saws. Each instructor covered basic checks, safe use and applications before the groups rotated between the two stations.
2025 Newtown Fill the Fire Truck
2025 Fill the Fire Truck: Newtown Firefighters Collect Food & Donations for FAITH Pantry
Newtown’s five fire companies came together for the 2025 Fill The Fire Truck for FAITH Food Pantry, collecting donations just ahead of Thanksgiving. Thanks to everyone who supported this important cause and helped make the 23rd annual event a success. Together, the community donated 63 boxes of food, 64 turkeys, and $1,590 in cash and gift cards.
Back To Basics Training: Driver Recert
Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue spent part of the morning of Sunday, November 9 doing driver recertification. Stations and courses were set up at multiple locations withing our district, where drivers were tested on different pieces of apparatus.
Pump operations were also tested during the annual training.
First Engineer Tim Whelan monitors while a driver maneuvers Tanker 449 through a cones course during driver recertification on November 9.
Drafting and pumping water was also part of the morning’s training.
Deputy Chief Ryan Clark and Firefighter Matt Dobson set up pumping between Engine 441 and Brush 445.
Deputy Chief Ryan Clark (left) and Firefighter Matt Dobson (right) work with Firefighter Kevin Keohan at Engine 441’s pump panel.
Firefighter Scott Allen also does pumping detail on Engine 441.
Halstead Named Fairfield County Fire Chiefs 2025 Bill Halstead Firefighter Of The Year
Karin Halstead was named the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs 2025 Bill Halstead Firefighter of The Year during the association’s annual meeting on October 22.
Fire Prevention Week Visit To Local Preschool
ACES International Preschool and Childcare Center welcomed Engineer Steve Stohl and Fire Police-Firefighter Shannon Will for a fire prevention presentation on October 10.
23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Recue (above) joined firefighters from across the state on Sunday, September 28, for the 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The ceremony was conducted at the state’s memorial in front of Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.
The names of five men who died in the line of duty were added to the memorial this year, including two from Newtown: Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg and Hawleyville Vice President and Firefighter Lewis Durgy.
Sandy Hook firefighters were honored to present the colors at the event.
Members of Dodgingtown Fire also attended the ceremony.
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue presented the colors during the 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Relatives of the late Botsford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company Firefighter Lewis Durgy are surrounded by Newtown volunteer firefighters at the Connecticut Fallen Firefighters Memorial on September 28.
Members of Botsford, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville and Sandy Hook volunteer fire companies all attended The 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Sandy Hook VFR members also paid their respects to the late Chief Bill Halstead, whose name was added to the state memorial in September 2022.
Read more here: Newtown Firefighters Among Those To Be Memorialized This Weekend (The Newtown Bee)
and here: Two Newtown Firefighters Among Five Men Memorialized During Annual Ceremony (The Newtown Bee)
Four Trophies From State Convention (Sunday, September 14, 2025)
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue won four trophies following the 142nd Firefighters Convention Parade in Orange.
Firefighters earned Best Appearing in Coats, Best Appearing Color Guard and Most Firefighters in Line.
Our Ladies Auxiliary won Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary-Runner Up.
Congratulations to Middlebury Volunteer FD, who won Best Overall.
Best Overall in Bridgewater (Friday, August 15, 2025)
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue won Best Overall — the fourth consecutive award of that merit this season — at Bridgewater Country Fair Fireman’s Parade.
Best Overall In Thomaston
Sandy Hook VFR and its Ladies Auxiliary went 3-for-3 with another CT Parade Marshals Association win on August 2, this time picking up Best Overall at Thomaston Volunteer FD Carnivla’s parade.