It has been a couple weeks since we have had any rain, very dry and warm, and the States Fire level remains high, BUT this week in Stepney the water level is high, from the below RIT setup to tonight’s call on Pastors Walk. A large water main ruptured and caused flooding to the local residence property, with a threat to the basements, Chief 151 took command and requested small gas trash pumps from Stepney and Stevenson, also requested the Water Company, Gas Company, health department and Monroe PD to barricade the road. Crews stayed on scene for about 3 hours to assist. Units on scene, E104, C151, E101, C351, R320, & R120. The Water Company along with a contractor worked throughout the night performing repairs and a septic pump contractor worked to pump out the septic tanks that were flooded with the water.

Photos by M. Rose

At 15:26 hrs. the volunteers of Stepney Fire were alerted to a transformer fire on the 200 block of Main St. E-101 was first to arrive to find 3 transformers hanging from a pole that had burned all the way through. Asst. Chief 152 (Rose Sr.) quickly shut down the roadway way and call for the utility company to make this a high priority. Crews were on scene for nearly 5 hours before the road could be reopened. While units were on scene Stepney was toned for an activated alarm on Trotters Lane, Monroe FD took in the call due to units being tied up on scene.

Tonight the Stepney Volunteers made ready for an upcoming 2 day RIT class being given by the State this weekend. The donated building that is being used is in the 200 block of RT 25 Main Street with no hydrants on the same side of the road as the drill house. The volunteers had to establish a way to provide ample water for the drill without affecting the busy RT 25 traffic. Training Officer LT. Dave Lewis Jr. 156 took on the challenge, and stretched two 3 inch lines under RT 25 by wading in knee deep water thru a low culvert.
This weekends training and certification will wrap up our 2 month long RIT series, and has given us the training needed to provide RIT to not only the Town of Monroe but also mutual aid RIT to the to surrounding communities as requested.

Photos by Andrew Schmaling

Today the volunteer companies of Monroe had a mass water supply drill. Companies from the surrounding communities set up a tanker drill in one of the many areas in town that do not have hydrants. The purpose of the drill was to see how much water we could move in the event there was a major fire in one of these areas. The drill was successful due to the 10 departments that were involved in the drill.

Late Sunday morning, the Stepney Firefighters received a call for a multi-vehicle MVA at an intersection on Easton Road at 11:58. Units 151, 101 and 120 responded from the annual hazmat training at Station 2. Cheif 151 was first on scene and reported minor fluid spills with one vehicle off the road. When the units arrived, crews proceeded to remove the hazards and assist EMS in minor patient care. Once under control units cleared and returned to their hazmat training.

This weekend the volunteers of Stepney finished up the annual Haz-Mat refresher training. The class was given by Bruce Kelly from Fairfield County Haz-Mat. Firefighters went through the grueling classroom curriculum for 8 hrs. and got hands on training with the various equipment on Haz-Mat 1. This a great way to train with people that you will work with in a major emergency. It was a good reminder on the many hazards that are out there on a daily basis.

As many know David Schmaling who is on military leave to serve his country recently made Sergeant rank just prior to his redeployment to Afghanistan on December 06, 2007, and while at his current base he has also taken on the position of Section Chief. In addition, his unit along with the assistance of the Afghanistan National Army captured 2 insurgents who were in the process of planting IEDs. CONGRATS!!!

A recent article in the March 2008 issue of the ROCKHARD FRG Newsletter shows SGT Schmaling receiving the AAM award (Army Achievement Medal) presented by LTC Custer (Dave is the second one in from the far end!). The AAM is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation, who while serving in any capacity with the Army in a noncombat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished himself or herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Army Commendation Medal.

We all are proud of Daves achievements and commitment to duty; we look forward to seeing him soon. Dave Be Safe ..... Your friends and family of the Stepney Volunteer Fire Company.

It is with deep regret that the Stepney Volunteer Fire Co. #1 annouce the passing of Russell Squires Jr. Father of Leuitenant Glenn Squires.

Russell R. Squires Jr.
August 11, 1927 - February 19, 2008

Veteran of U. S. Coast Guard and U. S. Army

Russell R. Squires, Jr., age 80, of Trumbull, a retired accountant for the Town of Westport, died on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Born in Bridgeport on August 11, 1927, he was a son of the late Russell R. and Iva Banks Squires Sr. A Veteran of the U. S. Coast Guard and the U. S. Army, Mr. Squires was a graduate of the Bentley College of Accounting and was a past member of the Fairchild Wheeler Men’s Golf Group. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth Charubini Squires, two sons, Scott Squires of Shelton and Glenn Squires and his wife Michelle of Trumbull, a daughter, Lynne Phillis and her husband Jeffrey of Gilbert, Arizona, three grandchildren, Stephanie and Lauren Squires and David Phillis as well as several nieces and nephews.


Funeral Information
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. Interment with military honors will follow in Nichols Village Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may call on Friday from 4-8 p.m.

Donations Information
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Swim Across the Sound, c/o St. Vincent Medical Center, 2800 Main St., Bridgeport, CT 06606.

It was a typical Monday morning in the town of Monroe and the volunteers of Stepney Fire were gearing up for a normal day. When at 09:52 hours the tone dropped for a working structure fire with reports of flames showing at a Hunter Ridge Rd. home.
E-201(Monroe) arrived first to find a 2 story colonial with heavy fire from the 1st and 2nd floors. Immediately they requested tankers from Botsford, Sandy Hook, Stevenson, White Hills, Oxford, Quaker Farms, and Huntington because this is an area with no hydrants. Q-200(Monroe) and E-101 arrived and ade an aggressive attack but quickly ran low on water. Crews set 2 portable ponds for a tanker shuttle and made the attack on the exterior because at this point the roof had collapsed. Crews brought this fire under control within 90 minuets and remained on scene to assist the Monroe Fire Marshals along with the CT State Fire Marshals to conduct an investigation to the cause of the fire. Mutual Aid was called in to staff the town fire houses due to all hands were on scene. Asst. Chief 152 (Rose Sr.) had command.

It was early Monday morning and the Stepney volunteers were alerted to a reported chimney fire in a residence on Harmony Lane. Captain 154 (Schmaling)was first to arrive to find a working structure fire. Crews quickly went to work and extinguished the blaze. Crews from Q-200(Monroe) did an exterior overhaul to expose the fire in the walls. Units from all three companies made quick work of the job and went into service. Chief 151(Klemish) had command.