Crime & Safety

3 Questions for Fire Chief Bill Seward: March 21

North Branford Fire Chief William Seward discusses new apparatus and the process for obtaining it, along with the NBFD's response during the blizzard.

 

North Branford Patch: What's new at the North Branford Fire Department?
Fire Chief William Seward: The Fire Department recently opened bids for the replacing of Rescue 11, which is housed at Station 1 and the remounting of our primary ambulance, Medic 4. The new Rescue 11 will replace an aging and overstuffed vehicle that no longer meets the needs of the department and our community. With the change of service demands witnessed by the fire service, we must be prepared to deliver services appropriate to the situations we are confronted with today. This means carrying more EMS, extrication, technical rescue and hazmat equipment, while also anticipating the requirements 10 years from now. Funding for these projects are made possible through bonding measures, while construction often takes almost a year to complete. 

North Branford Patch: What's something residents should know? 
Fire Chief William Seward: During the recent snowstorms members of the fire department manned stations 24 hours a day over a three-day period. The department was confronted with situations that required deployment of personal snowmobiles in order to reach the ill or injured. This often meant responding from Northford to the upper areas of North Branford near the Guilford line. More importantly, the department called for and utilized state resources – the CT National Guard – to transport citizens to the hospital as well as clear roads that town trucks could not reach. 

Find out what's happening in North Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

North Branford Patch: What is your favorite vacation destination? 
Fire Chief William Seward: It's a toss-up between Charlestown Beach, Rhode Island, and St. Thomas, V.I. Our family has been going to Charlestown Beach for many years and enjoys the beach and ability to take a short ride back home, while St. Thomas gives us the warmth, clear water and lots of shopping for the girls.

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Find out what's happening in North Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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