Just after midnight, tones dropped for mutual aid to the City of Ansonia requesting the Rapid Intervention Team for a structure fire. The fire was at 192 Wakelee Avenue, Klanko's Market. Hotchkiss Hose's Engine 13 responded with members from the Hotchkiss Hose, Storm Engine company, East End Hose, and the Fire Marshal's office. Once on scene the RIT crew organized the fire fighter rescue equipment and prepared to act in case of an emergency. The RIT stood by for roughly an hour while Ansonia fire fighters brought the fire under control.

The Derby Fire Department was toned out for a chimney fire at 19 Laurel Avenue. First arriving units found fire showing from the chimney. Crews went to work on extinguishing the fire, checking for extension, and protecting the area of the fireplace from further damage. No extension was found and units cleared in approximately 1 hour.

New Haven Register - April 1st, 2008 By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich DERBY — It’ll soon be lights, camera and action for the Fire Department. As a way to attract some “new blood” to the department’s volunteer roster, Fire Chief Charles Sampson and company will have a professional commercial shot later this spring that will air on local cable television. Thanks to a $36,000 grant Sampson secured from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the commercial’s main aim will be to spark interest in residents 18-40 years old and entice them to join the department. Over the past few years, the department has focused the majority of its recruitment on the 16- to 18-year-old high school population, he said. However, he said he found that demographic would ultimately move on after high school graduation, moving out of town to pursue college or start professional careers. Targeting the 18- to 40-year-old crowd makes more sense, Sampson noted, as these are people who have made Derby their home and are invested in the community. Advertisement“Due to the declining interest in the fire and EMS system, we must come up with new and unique ways to attract members,” Sampson said. “Our hope is to attract people into the volunteer services of the fire and emergency medical services through information that the volunteer services are for everyone, regardless of skills, age, gender and race,” Sampson said. In addition to the commercial, which Sampson said will use many of the current volunteers as “actors,” the grant will enable the department to create an informative flier and CD, with the commercial on it, that will be mailed to every Derby household. Sampson said the commercial will air on Comcast, the Valley’s cable television provider, several times throughout the four years covered by the grant, especially at times when the targeted audience is known to watch TV. Sampson said in addition to the “pride that comes along with giving back to the community,” joining the department comes with some perks, like tax abatements and free life-saving training. Fire Commissioner Kelly Curtis said he was excited about the grant and is hopeful the commercial and information campaign can do the job in recruiting new members. “We want to get new blood involved, not just in the Fire Department, but the ambulance corps as well,” Curtis said. The current roster of volunteer firefighters is at about 175, but not all are active members. There are a total of 75 EMS volunteers, with just about 35 to 40 of them active, officials said. Sampson applied for the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant last year. It enables volunteer departments to use the funding for recruitment and retention efforts.

At approximately 1700 hours, Box 518 was struck for a possible structure fire near the intersection of Harold Ave and George St. First arriving units found a rear deck on fire. A Derby fire fighter held the fire to the deck with a garden hose before units arrived. No extension to the structure was found and units cleared in about an hour.

The Derby Fire Department continues to fulfill its mission of providing emergency services to the citizens of the city. This year will bring some added changes that will benefit all. We were awarded the 2006 Fire Act Grant in August of 2007 and through this grant we will be purchasing some 28 new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. It also appears that we will be recepients of the 2007 SAFER Grant soon. More details to follow. We also look forward to adding new equipment and training as we apply for the 2008 Fire Act Grant. New policies and procedures will be forthcoming this year that will keep us in line with the National standards in training. A new Engine 14 (Class A pumper) is now in its final stages of bid specification and should be released this year. We ask that all citizens check their batteries in their smoke and CO detectors during the begining of this year. Most of all we hope that all of you will be safe. Thank you for visiting our website. Chief Charles Sampson Derby Fire Department Derby, CT

The Hotchkiss hosted a car wash for Pop Warner. Although there were several members of the Department on hand, several Cheerleaders and Football players washed cars ( Coaches and Parents supervised). The fund raiser was for travel and equipment expenses. Any one wishing to make further donations please mail them to - Derby Pop Warner, Nutmeg Ave. Derby CT 06418

Engines 13, 14, 16 Truck 15, Rescue 18 and FD 10 were dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a detached garage. Upon arrival units found a light smoke condition. Upon opening up a small lawn tractor was found burning in the middle of the garage. Members pushed it out of the structure and extinguished it

Units were called to a smoke investigation in the area of St. Mary's church. While en route FF Anthony Delucia discovered a working basement fire at 20 Seymour Ave. a block away. ENG 12, 13, TRK 15 and R 18 initially respond to find heavy fire working from the basement to the attic. A/C Butler ordered a 2nd. alarm response of 2 additional engines and truck to assist in the fast moving fire. Companies worked for approx. 90 minutes to extinguish the blaze. A Thank You goes out to the Ansonia and Shelton Companies who assisted at the scene and provided house coverage.

At Approximately 4:15 pm Engines 13, 14, 16, Truck 15, Rescue 18, HM 1, and FD 10 were dispatched to a working vehicle fire. Upon arrival Chief Sampson reported a fully envolved box truck fire. Memebers brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, the vehicle was a total loss

At 16:15 both Derby and Ansonia units were dispatched to Griffin Hospital for a sprinkler head activation. First units found there to be no fire but a head had activated due to a malfunctioning exhaust fan in the kitchen area. Members chocked the head to stop the water flow until Hospital personel could drain the system and make the repair. FD remained on scene for approximately 45 minutes assisting in water removal.

Chief Sampson has issues the 2006 tax abatement letters. You can get the application form on this site or one of your company officers. Remember the abatement is worth up to $1,000.00. Given the requirements of the City ordinance the measurement of activities will be take from the activity information provided by each company which will determine the actual ammount you receive. If you have a question with the activities you have participated in you must contact your company officers. All completed application must me to Chief Sampson as soon as possible to meet the March 1st deadline. You can give your completed applications to the Commissioner one of the Chiefs or your Company officer to get processed

At approximately 10:00 am on New Years Eve Day morning Engines 13, 14, 16, Truck 15 Rescue 18 and FD 10 were dispatched to a working fire at 193 Marshal La. Upon arrival units found the 1.5 story residence to be fully involved. Prior to the arrival of the FD units, off duty CSP Trooper Alex Horjatschun removed one of the residents from the home without injury. Firefighters operated on scene for 4 hours, standby crews remained on scene for approximately another 6 hours to reduce the potential of a rekindle. Currently the Departments Fire Marshal's office with the assistance of the State Fire Marshal's office is working on the investigation.

On January 2, 2007 Assistant Chief Charles Sampson will be sworn in as Chief of the Department. In a ceremony is to take place at 7:00pm at the Hotchkiss Hose Chief Sampson will be replacing Chief Allen Coppolo who's 2 year term has come to a close. At this time the editors of the DFD web site would like to thank Chief Coppolo for his years as Chief, a job well done. Also being elevated in the Chiefs ranks will be James Butler Jr. to 1st Assistant Chief. William Nicoletti to 2nd Assistant Chief. We would also like to welcome Thomas Lenart Jr. to the Chiefs ranks as the new 3rd. Assistant Chief. Chief Sampson would like to invite all persons to the ceremony and small gathering after.

You are cordially invited to attend the Storm Engine Co. #2 156th Anniversary Ball on Saturday, November 25, 2006. Captain's Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvres 6:00pm Dinner served at 7:00 - Open Bar. At will be held at: Villa Bianca 312 Roosevelt Dr. Seymour CT 06483 $45.00 per person. Dress Uniform or proper formal attire requested

Engines 11, 12, 16, Truck 15, Rescue 18 and FD 10 were dispatched to an unknown outside type fire. Upon arrival Chief Coppolo reported a working garage fire. Members went to work on 4 of the 9 units that were involved in fire. No injuries were reported. The Fire Marshal's office is investigating. During the incident water flow alarms were reported at 130 Division St, 72 Chapel St. and 152 Roosevelt Dr.