Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company went 2-for-2 on Saturday, July 13, winning its second Best Overall title in as many Connecticut Parade Marshals Association (CPMA) events this season. The second win came following the Tunxis Hose Fire Department’s 131st Anniversary Firemen’s Parade.
Sandy Hook continues to defend its CPMA State Championship, won for the first time during the 2023 season.
Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were dispatched at 14:40 to Berkshire Road west of Checkerberry Lane for a reported tree vs vehicle, with wires involved. While en route, firefighters were told a transformer may be involved. They were also told the driver of the vehicle was already out of the vehicle.
Eversource was also notified.
The first arriving member of NVAC confirmed the driver, a 60-year-old male, was already out of the 2004 Dodge Dakota Sport and uninjured.
SHVFR Chief Anthony Capozziello arrived on scene and further confirmed the reports. He also noted that while all wires were pulled down when a large tree fell on them, the wires were not on the Dakota.
Rescue 441 and a crew also responded to the scene. CT DOT was also added to the call, which closed Berkshire between both intersections with Chestnut Hill Road. Fire police worked with Newtown PD to detour traffic over Chestnut Hill Road.
A long stretch of wires and multiple poles were affected. Brush fires were starting on both sides of the incident. Chief Capozziello had Botsford Fire Rescue added to the call at the time, to assist with putting out some of the brush fires.
The driver was checked for injuries, and was not transported.
Botsford cleared at 15:33.
Firefighters remained on scene until the vehicle was towed. Eversource and DOT were on the scene.
Sandy Hook cleared at 15:58.
The crash kept Berkshire closed for hours, until all poles could be repaired and all wires rehung.
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company won Best Overall ini its first parade of the season, July 6 in Beacon Falls.
Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Captain Stephen Clark has been named the 2024 Firefighter of the Year on Monday, June 3.
Local and state officials joined Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (SHVFR) and members of the late Chief Bill Halstead’s family on July 20 to dedicate a local bridge in honor of our late fire chief.
Chief Halstead died unexpectedly on July 8, 2022. He was 73. A lifelong resident of Sandy Hook, he had been a member of SHVFR for over 57 years, carrying on the legacy of his family members, including his mother, father, brother, and numerous aunts and uncles. He joined the department in January 1965 when he turned 16. He had served continuously as chief of the department for 44 years after being elected to the position in 1978.
Chief Halstead had also worked for the State of Connecticut at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown for 25 years. He was the chief of the hospital’s fire department until his retirement in 1997.
He also served as Deputy Fire Marshal for the Town of Newtown from 1983 to 2001, and became the full-time Marshal in 2001 until he retired from that position in 2016. He also served as Newtown’s Emergency Management Director for 23 years.
On July 20, Bridge No 00505, which carries State Route 6/Church Hill Road over I-84, was formally renamed The Chief William T. Halstead Memorial Bridge. A pair of signs have been installed on Church Hill Road, one in each direction, announcing the new name.
State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and Marty Foncello, State Senator Tony Hwang, Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci and Newtown Poet Laureate Lauren Cross all spoke during Saturday’s event.
SHVFR EMS Captain Karin Halstead spoke for the fire company; Deb Halstead, Chief’s widow, also spoke.
Approximately 150 guests joined the fire company and its Ladies Auxiliary for the ceremony. Many remained after the presentation to enjoy light refreshments and share memories and socialize.
Another great night of training, this time ladder and exterior ops, with Mission CIT.
Working with SHVFR’s Training Committee, CIT Instructors Bret Newport and Pat O’Shea opened the July 22 training with a quick briefing in our meeting room. The leaders went over different structure fire scenarios before moving everyone outdoors, where they had opportunities to work at multiple stations.
Firefighters worked on hose lines, setting up and breaking down hydrants, working with Quint 400 and its lines, and pumping water through Engine 441 and Tanker 449.
Friday & Saturday, June 7-8, 2024
Thirty-five years ago, what started out as a humble fundraiser for Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s golden anniversary is now a bustling annual tradition. This year, on June 7 and 8, the members of the company — assisted by dozens of additional family members, friends and other volunteer — served 2,040 lobsters and 770 steaks. Between the two nights, there were no less than 3,000 people in attendance. They enjoyed a raw seafood bar, their choices of lobster, steak, hambuger and hot dog entrees, a cocktail bar, and live music.
Read more here: LobsterFest: 35 Years And 2,040 Lobsters Strong (The Newtown Bee)
Over the two nights of Friday and Saturday, June 7-8, we cooked and served 2,050 lobsters and 770 steaks. We also sold dozens of hamburger and hot dog meals, and many guests enjoyed offerings from our raw bar.
Thank you to everyone who made all of this possible. We appreciate everyone who helped make this fundraiser another successful event for us and the community we serve. Proceeds from LobsterFest directly benefit our company.
LobsterFest 2024
will be Friday, June 7, 5-9 pm;
and Saturday, June 8, 4-9 pm,
at our main station, 18-20 Riverside Road.
Full lobster or steak dinner tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
Advance tickets are available cash or check only. Credit and debit cards will also be accepted AT THE DOOR ONLY.
Tickets are available from SHVFR members. They can also be purchased at the office of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road; and the Office of the Fire Marshal, within Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.
Advance sales end at noon Friday, June 7.
Lobster or steak dinners come with corn on the cob, a dinner roll, Manhattan style chowder (“Chief’s Recipe”), potato salad, and a water or soda.
Hamburger or hot dog dinner tickets — which also include all the sides listed above — are $10 in advance and at the door.
Both nights also feature a raw bar, a full bar, desserts, additional soft drinks (all separate purchases — CASH ONLY), and live music. We will have an ATM on site.
TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE
SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY
Additional details HERE (our Facebook Event page) and here (our LobsterFest FAQs page).
Sandy Hook VFR was dispatched with Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a medic at 07:13 to a reported motor vehicle accident with extrication on Swamp Road, in Botsford’s district. Dispatch was reporting the driver’s side of a car had crashed into a utility pole, trapping the driver, who was injured.
A Newtown PD officer arrived on scene and confirmed the entrapment of a male driver, who was reporting leg pain. The officer also reported the pole did not receive significant damage.
The medic reported the car had T-boned against the pole.
Botsford Chief Andrew White added Newtown Hook & Ladder to the call upon his arrival.
Sandy Hook Rescue 444 and Engine 441 responded with crews. Sandy Hook VFR Chief Anthony Capozziello also went direct to the crash.
Firefighters used Hurst tools and additional equipment to get the driver out of the vehicle. The driver was transported to the hospital.
Sandy Hook and Hook & Ladder cleared from the scene at 07:57. Botsford cleared at 08:01.
