The Green Ribbon Motorcycle Ride went through Stepney on Sunday, May 5th. The Green Ribbon Ride was a ride both to pay tribute and as a fundraiser for the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shootings, as well as for the fire departments of Newtown (Newtown Hook & Ladder, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook and Dodgingtown).

The 2,000 registered participants assembled in various parking lots in downtown Shelton. After opening ceremony speeches from notables including Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti as well as WPLR’s Chaz & AJ, as well as ride organizer Fred Garrity Jr, the riders rode through Shelton, Derby, Seymour, Oxford, Newtown, Monroe and ended at Trumbull Westfield Mall in Trumbull.

The ride was led by one-hundred motorcycle-riding police officers from all over Connecticut, as well as from Maine, New York and New Jersey.

Stepney Fire members included Scott, Maurene & Stephen Rose, Bill Truini, Will Schmaling, Dave Engle and Greg Loehr.

Through the generosity of both the riders and sponsors, approximately $50,000 was raised. The monies will be distributed directly to the 26 families, the Sandy Hook Family Healing Fund, the Newtown Police Union, Newtown EMS, to each of the five Newtown Fire Departments, and two local children’s charities in honor of the lost children, The Center for Women & Families and Al’s Angels.

A video of the ride, shot by Stephen Rose, will be available shortly.

It is with much sadness that Stepney Fire announces the passing of Patrick Mallon, father of Stepney firefighter Brendan Mallon. Pat Mallon, age 56, was the owner of A/C Specialties in Bridgeport and was an active member of MACS, the Mobile Air conditioning Society as well as Stepney Fire’s Boy Scout troop. Besides his son Brendan, Pat also left another son, Matthew, 17, wife Marianne, his mother Patricia and several brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews. Our hearts go out to the Mallon family.

Stepney’s volunteers spent the weekend participating in its annual Hazmat Refresher course. The course, produced by H.K. Carr & Associates of Englishtown, NJ was held all day Saturday and Sunday.

Stepney Fire was called out for a two-car motor vehicle accident with possible entrapment on Main street by Knollwood Road and the Stepney Dam. Stepney responded with Engine 101, Engine 102 and Rescue 120. Monroe and Stevenson also responded with Engine 203, Quint 200, Utility 214 and Rescue 320.

Since the two vehicles ended up so far apart, the scene was treated as two separate accident scenes. 151 took command of one scene while 252 controlled the other.

One car was in the Pequonnock River. Although it was originally reported that there was possible entrapment, there was no extrication from the vehicle in the water. Personnel on-scene did rescue a person from on top of the car.

One person was extricated from the other car.

Monroe EMS transported two patients to the hospital. All units were clear and back in quarters around 2am.

Video from the scene can be seen by clicking the VIDEO button in the column on the left of your screen.

Videos and photos courtesy of Maurene Rose

Stepney Fire member Vern Davis announced to the department's members recently that he has been a member of Stepney Fire for SEVENTY YEARS!

Mr. Davis joined in 1942. To put that into perspective, when he signed up...

World War II was in full swing

FDR was President

Glenn Miller sells 1 million copies of "Chattanooga Choo Choo"

The average cost of a new house was $3,770
 

Congratulations, Vern. And, thanks for your continued support.

Stepney Fire, along with Monroe and Stevenson fire departments, were called out for a structure fire, confirmed by Monroe Police.

Stepney responded with Engine 102 and Utility 114.

Command was handled by Monroe's 252.

The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.

Stepney units were back in quarters by 0757hrs.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Stepney’s volunteers, along with members of Monroe and Stevenson fire departments, teamed up for a roadtrip to Breezy Point, New York to assist members of the Rockaway Point Fire Department on Long Island. Rockaway Point, like so many communities along the east coast, was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Chief Mike Klemish, along with firefighters Alex Puskar and Stephen Rose, joined approximately 20 other volunteers from Monroe’s firefighting community to deliver donated items, help build shelves and do whatever else was needed.

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Easton firefighter Lieutenant Russell F. Neary. Neary, 55, was President of the Easton Volunteer Fire Company. Lieutenant Neary died in the line of duty on Monday night, October 29 at the height of Hurricane Sandy. He was clearing debris from a roadway when another tree fell and struck Lt. Neary. Services were held at Notre Dame Church in Easton. An estimated five-hundred emergency responders gathered and processed from Easton Fire Headquarters to Notre Dame Church for the service. Firefighters gathered from all across Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and even Canada to offer their condolences. Also on hand were Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and US Senator Joseph Lieberman. To allow all of Easton’s emergency responders to attend the service, Easton’s fire personnel were covered by firefighters from Stepney, Monroe and Trumbull. Easton EMS was covered by Nelson Ambulance. Neary was a 13-year veteran of the Easton Volunteer Fire Company. Lieutenant Neary leaves behind his wife Maryanne and daughters Cara and Caitlin. He is also survived by his brother, Peter and his wife, Judith, and their children, Christopher, Laurel and Heather, brother-in-laws, John Faley and his wife Susan, Kevin Faley, Michael Faley and his wife, Kathy, sister-in-law Eileen Faley Carroll and her husband Jim, and Maryanne's parents John and Eileen Faley and many nieces and nephews. This was the first line-of-duty death in Easton Fire Department’s 91-year history.

As with most communities on the eastern seaboard, Mother Nature had her way with Monroe, in the form of Hurricane Sandy. In just one day, Stepney Fire responded to about 20 calls (in September, we responded to 35 calls in the MONTH). Most of these calls involved trees. Some fell on power and telephone lines. Some fell on roads, blocking traffic. Some fell on houses, causing substantial damage. Stepney Fire also responded to assist Monroe EMS to gain access to a woman going into labor, as well as responding to Easton for a call. Connecticut Light & Power has numerous tree crews and utility crews working around the clock throughout the town to restore power to our community.

Stepney has gotten an unwanted guest: Hurricane Sandy. In preparation for Sandy, Stepney Fire's members are standing by with full crews at both stations. In addition, Stepney Station 2 has been selected by the state as a staging point for strike teams. Strike team members from Glastonbury, Avon, New Britain, Colchester, Somers, Bloomfield, South Windsor are are standing by, along with representatives from DEEP. One of Connecticut's Emergency Communications vehicles is also standing by Station 2, should it be needed in the area. Crews began assembling here around 3 o'clock this morning. One team has already been dispatched to Darien for a swift-water rescue. As of this writing, they are still on-scene. More details will be posted as the storm progresses.

Stepney’s volunteers went back to school recently. WAY back. As in years past, our members visited nursery schools as well as Stepney Elementary School as part of Fire Prevention Week. Our goal was to teach things like what number to call in an emergency (911), what to do if your smoke detector goes off and other things. In addition to the elementary school, Stepney’s firefighters visited Magic Kingdom, Step-A-Way, Kiddie Campus, Little Ivy and Tutor Time.

For the twelfth consecutive year, the Connecticut United Ride rolled through Stepney. An estimated twenty-one hundred motorcycles gathered in Norwalk to ride through 10 Connecticut towns, Westport, Wilton, Redding, Georgetown, Bethel, Newtown, Monroe, Trumbull and Fairfield, ending in Bridgeport’s Seaside Park. Stepney Fire was well represented with approximately eight members participating. Fore more information, please go to www.ctunitedride.com.

Stepney's volunteers put on a "whale" of a lobster clambake this weekend. The Lobster Team outdid themselves, serving up lobster, steak, clams, corn-on-the-cob and desserts. We certainly hope to see you next year!