Click the links below to navigate to information about our various Volunteer Companies.
Company 2 - MP Rice Hose Company
Company 4 - Short Beach HH & L
Company 5 - Stony Creek
Company 9 - Indian Neck/Pine Orchard
Rescue Squad 1 - Headquarters
Fire Police Squad
Company 2 - M.P. Rice
| Captain | Derek Catugal |
| 1st Lieutenant | Mark Hornyak |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Bill Miller |
| Secretary | Patrick Connell |
| Treasurer | Vincent Nobile |
Additional Links
Volunteer Firefighter Membership Application
HISTORY OF BRANFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT and M.P. RICE HOSE COMPANY TWO
Prepared for M.P. Rice Hose Company 2 Anniversary Committee
BRANFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED
1899 - At 2pm on a Saturday July 1, 1899, the townspeople of Branford gathered for a town meeting. Among the agenda items to be considered was the approval to spend $700 to purchase two hand-drawn hose carriages with appliances for use in fighting fires in town. With the appropriation of these funds, the Town of Branford made its first commitment toward the establishment of a municipal fire department for the community. Two weeks later, a $525 bid from the Eureka Hose Company was accepted and the new equipment, consisting of two new hose carriages, 1000 feet of hose, four play pipes, one dozen wrenches and a dozen lanterns was ordered. The remaining $175 was put toward the purchase of a $225 horse-drawn ladder truck equipped with ladders and pikes.
A town committee, formed on August 9, 1899, was charged with the formation of a team to learn, maintain and use the newly ordered fire equipment. Later in the month, the two new hose carts arrived. With hose loaded, the carts were placed in service, one at Town Hall and one at John T. Sliney’s. A set of finalized bylaws and regulations for the new department were presented and approved by the selectmen on September 19, 1899. These rules called for recruitment of seventy volunteer firemen in addition to a Chief Engineer and two Assistant Engineers. Each of the two hose companies was to require twenty men each. Thirty additional men would be needed for the Hook and Ladder Company. A public plea was printed in the local newspaper, the Branford Opinion, encouraging the young men of Branford to consider volunteering to serve on the team whose mission was to use the town’s fire fighting equipment to protect lives and property from the threat of fire. In order to see who was interested in serving in the department’s ranks, a signature book was placed at F.E. Peckman & Company and the young men of the town were encouraged to sign-up promptly.
Three fire fighting companies emerged, Hose Company 1, Hose Company 2 and the Martin Burke Hook and Ladder Company. Five town residents were appointed to a commission to oversee the fire department during October 1899. Appointed to the Branford Board of Fire Commissioners were residents M.P. Rice, T.P. Carney, David Ashman, J.H. Barker, and W.N. Boynton. On November 4th Martin Burke was elected the first Chief of the Branford Fire Department.
During November 1900, Hose Company No. 2 became M.P. Rice Company No. 2. Named for Michael P. Rice, the son of Edward Rice, one of Branford’s first native settlers from Ireland who came to the states in 1862 with Edward Kennedy to work at the Branford Lock Works. M.P. Rice started and operated a livery and carting business headquartered on Main Street along Veto Street. He and business partner John T. Sliney built the first railroad bridges at Kirkham and Montowese Streets and did a great deal of work on the Blackstone Library. Active in town affairs, Rice was elected to serve as Selectman at the age of 23. He served four consecutive years and was later elected to serve again from 1899 until 1904. During that time Rice was instrumental in the establishment of the Branford Fire Department. He served as the chairman of the fire commission as well as an active charter member of Hose Company No. 2. When a contest was held to see whose name the Fire Company would bear, voters paid five cents to cast their votes. M.P. Rice won the election receiving 1200 votes. Company 2 continues to bear the name of M.P. Rice today.
Because of the difficulty firemen were having mobilizing the hose cart from where it was being stored in town hall, the town purchased land on West Main Street (now 341 Main Street) from Michael Mason for $300. On it, local contractor Benjamin Hosley erected a two-story hose house to store the equipment of M.P. Rice Hose Company 2 for $600. Upon moving their equipment, members of M.P. Rice hosted a house warming at their new quarters in the fourth ward on February 9, 1901. M.P. Rice Company 2 continues to operate from this building today. Equipment operated by L.A. Fisk Hose Company No. 1 and Martin Burke Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 were moved to a new station built on a strip of land at 23 Hillside Avenue purchased in 1901 from T.J. McCarthy for $900. The building was erected for $2,100. It served the fire department in this capacity until 1915 when the building was converted into a school, and later into a police station.
A raging fire in the Stony Creek section of town on June 8, 1900 claimed four buildings including the store and home of Charles Gilley, the Stony Creek branch of the Blackstone Library and the Congregational Church. As a result of this fire and the total loss of Frank Abolini’s store that same year, Stony Creek decided to further develop the local bucket brigade that was organized by Harry Page. The first pumper was a hand-drawn unit known as “2 ton 10” and was placed in service at a building on School Street by the newly formed Stony Creek Rescue Hook and Ladder Company. Today the company is known as Stony Creek Rescue Company No. 5 and operates one 1995 Sutphen Class A pumper, one specialized pumper, one medium-duty rescue truck and the town’s primary fire boat from a three bay station on School Street.
To help raise funds for equipment, a six-night fair was held during April 1901. Funds from the event were used to purchase the first rubber coats and helmets, which were supplied by The Candee Company of New Haven. In later years the department’s companies held carnivals and musters and sponsored raffles to raise funds. Today fire companies raise funds through direct mailings in to residents and business owners in the primary districts that they serve.
All companies were called out to the home of the Reynolds family on Hillside Avenue on October 9, 1901. Newspaper reports describe how a wrench missing from the toolbox on the hose cart resulted in a delay getting water on the fire. Mrs. Margaret Reynolds, a well-known resident of the town perished in the fire.
At a meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners held in December 1901 it was decided to allow Company Foremen to call out their companies once each month for the purpose of training the men. Members failing to turn out for the training drills were to be fined twenty-five cents and those that missed four consecutive drills were to be suspended. Chief Bradley was authorized to purchase rope and stakes to keep crowds back at fires as well as a stove for M.P. Rice Hose Company No. 2’s house and pitchforks for Hook and Ladder Truck No. 1.
In 1902 an adjunct of the Pine Orchard Improvement Association purchased a 400-foot reel of hose and was stored in the McLean’s Post Office. All of the males in Pine Orchard were enlisted as members of the Pine Orchard Fire Department. The company eventually disbanded and was revitalized as Pine Orchard Company 6 in 1941. Today, Pine Orchard is provided primary fire protection by a combined force with Indian Neck Company 9, which operates one 1964 Class A pumper and one specialized forestry unit from stations on Linden Avenue and Pine Orchard Road.
Other early major fires that tested the resources and manpower of the Branford Fire Department include:
a fire caused significant damage to Saint Mary’s Church on November 25, 1904 for which the department was criticized because water could not reach the top of the building
A fire that destroyed the barns of Charles H. Wilford on Wilford Avenue on October 9, 1907;
four degree temperatures, a forceful wind, frozen fire hydrant and a broken axle on one of the responding hose carts hampered department efforts to douse a blaze on January 29, 1908 that claimed the O’Brien home;
headlines on February 6, 1910 exclaimed “Fire Epidemic Stirs The Town” as a result of three fires in less than 48 hours that caused damage to the Harbor Street School as well as to property on Cocheco Avenue.
To further support fire fighting operations, Headquarters Engine Company 8 was founded in 1910 and operated from Baldwin’s Garage on John Street. Under the leadership of the company’s first Captain Irving Baldwin, the company eventually combined with the L.A. Fisk Hose Company and the Martin Burke Hook and Ladder Company. Used to alert members about fires, the first alarm was a steam whistle that was taken from the steamer “White Star”. The first engine was a 1910 Hartford Pope seven-passenger touring car that was equipped with fire hose and equipment and was driven by Baldwin and Johnny Barnes. In 1936 Headquarters Company No. 8 and the Branford Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 split into separate operations. In 1963 the company moved to the current fire headquarters building at 43 North Main Street. Five acres of property was purchased from the MIF Company for $51,500 and building was erected for $186,000. Original plans to have M.P. Rice Hose Company 2 move to the new headquarters building along with Hook and Ladder Company No.1 and Headquarters Company 8 was staunchly protested by the members of M.P. Rice.
A grocery store owned by Edward Knowles was the storage location of hose that was used to fight fires in Short Beach in 1911 when the fire company there first organized. Branford Blacksmith Henry Hubbard built a two-wheeled hose cart that was kept in the rear of the Claremont Hotel and was operated by the members of the Short Beach Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 4. F.G. Hart donated land on Shore Drive to the company in 1912. Short Beach purchased the first motorized fire engine, a Pierce Arrow with a Northern Pump in 1922. Today Short Beach Company No. 4 operates a 1997 Class A Pierce Sabre Pumper from their quarters on Shore Drive.
For the first 24 years of the department’s history, no fire fighter had ever given his life in the line of duty. That changed during the early hours of March 18, 1924, Saint Patrick’s Day, when M.P. Rice Hose Company No. 2 Fire Fighter Victor George Vickstrom died while fighting a fire in the Toole Block on Main Street. On Thanksgiving Day 1996 Branford Fire Fighter Edward Ramos lost his life performing interior fire suppression at the Floors and More store fire on School Ground Road. Both Vickstrom and Ramos will be remembered for having made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the lives and property of the residents of the Town of Branford.
Founded on February 3, 1934, 13 charter members organized Indian Neck Company No. 9. With funds that were raised they purchased a ½ acre piece of land for $600 from Bertha Wilford Smith and built their station by hand. In 1954 a fire at the Company No. 9 station required extensive renovations to the building. Today the Indian Neck Company No. 9 operates from the same station.
M.P. Rice Hose Company 2’s hose cart was replaced in 1923 by the 1910 Hartford Pope truck that was operated by Headquarters Company 8. In 1928 Company 2 placed a new Maxim fire- pumper in service and operated it for 20 years when a 1948 Maxim pumper with a 250-gallon water tank and a two-stage 750 gallon-per-minute pump was placed in service. This truck served the company for 27 years. In June 1973 a committee was formed to look into the replacement of M.P. Rice’s pumper as well as Engine 7 which was being operated from Headquarters on North Main Street. Purchasing two pieces of apparatus at the same time is a common practice of fire departments that results in significant savings. During the summer of 1976 the two new Maxim engines arrived in Branford at a cost of $49,000 each. M.P. Rice operated the 1976 Maxim engine until 1997 when the current Engine 2, a 1997 Pierce Saber with a 500-gallon water tank and 1500 gallon per minute single-stage pump was placed in service. Features of the current Engine 2 includes an on-board 7500-amp generator, seating for up to eight fire fighters in the enclosed crew cab, air-conditioning for fire fighter rehabilitation, 5 pre-connected rapid attack hose lines, and 1000 feet of four-inch supply hose line. In another two-at-once arrangement, the department saved significant money by also ordering a replacement for Short Beach’s Engine 4 at the same time.
The fire department is largely a tradition-based organization, and M.P. Rice Hose Company 2 continues to uphold a number of these traditions. Starting in 1972, the company began to recognize one member each year for outstanding service to the company. Given each year at the company’s annual banquet, the award is given in memory of M.P. Rice Fire Fighter Charles S. Witkowski who remained an active member until his death in 1972. Beginning in 1980, M.P. Rice began also awarding one member each year for unselfish acts that result in improved morale of the company members. This award is also given annually at the company’s banquet and is given in the name of Paul Maresca who lost his life in a tragic accident. Fire fighting and training activities often require the member to spend time away from their families. As a demonstration of appreciation to the wives of the members who may be called away during family meals and holiday celebrations, the company established an annual Ladies Night. Company members and their wives are treated to an evening of dining and dancing. Each February the members of M.P. Rice gather for their annual banquet, a tradition that has been carried on for many years.
While the department is steeped in 100 years of history and memories, the present and the future of the department are equally important. Today the Branford Fire Department’s volunteer companies work along with the career members of the department to provide Branford’s residents and visitors with the very best in fire protection. Services delivered by the department have expanded to include fire prevention, marine rescue including dive team and paramedic level emergency medical services. Apparatus includes six Class A fire engines, one aerial platform truck, one heavy-duty rescue truck, one medium-duty rescue truck, three paramedic ambulances, three fire boats and two forestry units. Members of the department have never been better trained or equipped to deal with the over 4,500 emergencies that the department is called upon to respond to annually.
Note: If you are interested in becoming a volunteer member of the Branford Fire Department, download the Volunteer Membership Application. Complete the application and return it to headquarters located at 45 North Main St.
Short Beach HH&L Company 4
| Captain | Eric Wagner |
| 1st Lieutenant | Lawrence Fisher II |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Kevin Dickson |
Members
- Michael Acquino 2007 (Associate)
- John Batson 1983 (Associate)
- Michael Baylis II 2006 (Associate)
- Roy Belenardo ---- (Associate)
- John Conant ---- (Associate)
- John Consienza 2006 (Associate)
- Ernie Creta 1971 (Voting)
- Jason Cusack 1990 (Associate)
- William Cusack III 1986 (Associate)
- William Cusack 1965 (Voting)/Trustee
- Steven Cusack 1984 (Associate)
- Darce DeCosta (Voting)
- Keith DeCosta (Voting)/Trustee
- Joseph DeFelippo 1991 (Associate)
- Kevin Dickson 1995 (Voting)/Secretary
- Michael Dimassa 1978 (Associate)
- Steven DiMassa 1976 (Associate)
- Fr. Kevin Donovan 2006 (Associate)
- Chris Edmonds 1987 (Voting)
- Robert Feniolo 1990 (Associate)
- Walter Fenn 1946 (Associate)
- Lawrence Fisher II 2005 (Associate)
- Jon "Fuzzy" Florio 2006 (Associate)
- Peter Genovese 2004 (Associate)
- Martin Hallier 1970 (Associate)
- Adam Hansen 1999 (Associate)
- Donald Hartlin 1980 (Associate)
- Matthew Hyatt 2015 (Voting)
- Christy Johnson ---- (Voting)
- Jeffrey Kaczynski 2006 (Associate)
- Sean Kelly, Sr. ---- (Voting)
- Edwin Kelsey III 1955 (Voting)
- Robert Kelsey 2003 (Associate)
- Patrick King 2014 (Voting)
- Donald Krahl 1966 (Voting)
- William Maclean 1970 (Associate)
- Alexander Marinelli Sr 1961 (Voting)
- Ralph Marino 2004 (Associate)
- Christopher Martson 1999 (Voting)
- Sean Marston 1995/2006 (Associate)
- John Mason 1955 (Voting)
- John Meneely 1946 (Associate)
- James Murray Jr 1996 (Associate)
- Timothy Murray 1999 (Voting)
- Robert Paradis 1980 (Associate)
- Kenneth Peterson 1969 (Associate)
- Arnold Peterson 1947 (Associate)
- John Poulton 1948 (Associate)
- Kathleen Powers 2006 (Voting)
- Richard Preiss 1987 (Associate)
- Edward Purdie 1972 (Associate)
- Jessica Royka 2015 (Associate)
- Ian Shackleton 2013 (Voting)/President
- Michelle "Molly" Shackleton 2014 (Voting)/Treasurer
- James Smith 1970 (Associate)
- John Sobolewski 1968 (Associate)
- Brian Thomas 2013 (Voting)
- William L. Thompson 1944 (Voting)/Trustee
- William P. Thompson 1977 (Associate)
- Henry Tokarczyk 1960 (Associate)
- Mary Travaglino 1999 (Associate)
- Carin Van Gelder ---- (Associate)
- Eric Wagner 2005 (Voting)
Stony Creek Fire - Rescue Co. 5
| Captain | Steve Palumbo Sr. |
| 1st Lieutenant | Donald Hennessey |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Christopher Meffert |
Members
- Heather Adams
- Connor Ball
- Thomas Burne
- Andrew DaRos
- Peter J. DaRos
- Peter P. DaRos
- David Delise
- Ryan Dugan
- Carter Hennessey
- Connor Hennessey
- Cara Hennessey
- Mike McNamara
- Frank Palumbo
- Jess Palumbo
- Steve Palumbo Jr.
- Anthony Pepe
- William Pepe Jr.
- Jennifer Provost
- Jessica Royka
Indian Neck / Pine Orchard Fire Co. 9
| Captain | Christopher Gagliardi (Active) |
| 1st Lieutenant | John Rothfuss (Active) |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Geoffrey Hotz (Active) |
| Secretary | Ryan Andrews (Active) |
| Treasurer | Steve Potter (Social) |
Address:
6 Linden Avenue
Branford, CT 06405
Phone Number:
(203)315-3910
Active Members:
- Ryan Andrews
- Walter Andrews
- Justin Infantino
- Brock Kopp
- Michael Mullen
- Matthew Pastore
- Joseph Petrosino Jr
- Matthew Potter
- Eric Sullivan
Social Members:
- Joseph Abel
- Jason Corey
- Nick Dykun
- Ryan Francis
- Sean Hines
- Mike Integlia
- David Laurello
- Tyler Mahoney
- Joseph Massey
- Brian Mullen
- Connor Mullen
- Riley O'Donnell
- Tyler Olt
- Holden Pretash
- Peter Sachs
- Timothy Sullivan
- Larry Yelle
Honorary Members:
- Robert Massey Sr.
- Phillip Delise
Indian Neck Pine Orchard Fire Company 9 is one of five volunteer fire companies within the Branford Fire Department. It primarily serves the Indian Neck, Pine Orchard, Hotchkiss Grove, and Pawson Park areas. Our approximate District is South of the Amtrak Railroad Tracks/ Damascus Road and East of the Branford River. It is one of five volunteer companies in town providing services in conjunction with the career staff stationed at Fire HQ. Company 9 provides EMS and Fire Services to our district (Indian Neck, Pine Orchard, Hotchkiss Grove, Totoket Rd Riverside/Woodvale Rd, Montowese/Indian Neck Ave. and Damascus Rd and all over town as needed.
Founded in 1934, when Indian Neck was largely a summer community, Company Nine was housed in a building that was built in 1918 and originally served as a carriage barn. Recently, Company Nine moved into a new state of the art Firehouse on Linden Avenue. The new structure was funded and managed by the Town of Branford and the State of Connecticut. We run a 2020 Ford F-450 EMS/Brush Tactical Unit (TAC 6) and a 2000 KME Fire Pumper. Many of our members have gone on to become professional EMS and Fire Service Members. The Company typically drills on Monday Evenings from 6:30-9:30PM and at other times as needed. Some training is done online at your leisure. EMS and Firefighting Certification is typically offered in the New Haven Area.
Please visit our Facebook Page
Always Welcoming New Member Applications!
The BFD is always accepting applications for new volunteer members interested in Fire and EMS Services. You are welcome to apply if you are a town resident or live in an adjacent town. Adult members must have a CT Drivers License and be over 18. You will need to complete an analog/written application and then pass a simple background check and physical to be approved. BFD provides free and reimbursed training and turnout gear. Each company has it’s own policy regarding uniform reimbursement. If interested you are encouraged to inquire at Company 9’s Firehouse (6 Linden Ave) on a Monday Evening or call (203)315-3910.
We also welcome social members and volunteers with other skills to assist with our affairs. Please call 203-315-3910 for more info.
Print the Fillable Application for Membership here (PDF)
Explorers (Ages 14+)
Company 9, Company 4 and Company 5 cooperate to Operate a Boy Scouts of America - Fire Explorer Post! Explorers typically drill at the same time as their company. We try to return Explorers to the station around 9PM during the school year. Please visit the Exploring National Website: https://www.exploring.org/ for a Youth Application and Parent Consent Form (Both at Bottom Right). For a look at our post, please visit Branford Fire Explorer Facebook Page
Male and Female Youth aged 14+ may apply to learn hands on skills and gain real world experience in fire and EMS services. You will be gaining valuable skills and experience and may earn community service hours for school. Adult supervision is provided. We provide Fire Gear for training as available.
Stop down at Station 9 or call (203)315-3910 for more information (leave a message if necessary). You may also call Fire Headquarters for Information.
Rescue Squad 1 - Headquarters
| Captain | Michael Acquino |
| 1st Lieutenant | Ryan Dugan |
| 2nd Lieutenant | David Laurello |
| Liaison | D.C. Timothy Murray |
Active Members:
- Capt. Eric Wagner - Co.4
- Lt. Lawrence Fisher II - Co.4
- Lt. Tyler Mahoney - Co.9
- Lt. Chris Gagliardi - Co.9
- FF. Brock Kopp - Co.9
- FF. Justin Infantino - Co.9
- FF. Joseph Petrosino Jr - Co.9
Rescue Squad 1 is a volunteer company comprised of members from all of the surrounding Branford engine companies. Tasked with special rescue response and mitigation, we pride ourselves with a higher level of training and experience. Operating out of Fire Headquarters at 45 North Main Street, the rescue responds to a variety of incidents across the Town of Branford.
Types of incidents include structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous materials, emergency medical calls, and special rescues to include high/low angle rope rescue, elevator rescue, vehicle/machinery rescue, confined space rescue, and water/ice rescue. We carry a vast assortment of equipment which requires our members to train often, and attend some of the most challenging classes in the country. Rescue members are dedicated, "out-side the box" type of people who always make several plans of action for one specific problem.
The Rescue Squad responds with not only our main apparatus, but several specialized pieces of equipment depending on incident severity. Having members across the town responding with their perspective engine company, we can perform a size-up and begin making a plan of action right when they arrive. Thus starting the initial rescue operation before any specialized equipment even arrives on scene at the incident.
Rescue 1 Apparatus
Rescue 1 is a 1998 Pierce Saber with Rescue Body. Placed into service in 1999, it has served the Town of Branford for over 12 years.
Apparatus specifications:
Seating: 6
20,000,000 cp Light Tower
Supplied air refilling
150kw generator
Assortment of HURST hydraulic equipment
Large assortment of PARATECH struts
Large assortment of hand and power tools
Portable lighting
Assortment of Rope Rescue equipment
Assortment of Confined Space equipment
Assortment of Haz-Mat equipment
Water Rescue equipment
Medical equipment
Fire Police Squad
| Captain | George Weted |
| 1st Lieutenant | Joe Tulli |
| 2nd Lieutenant | John Cappiello |
| Secretary | Joe Tulli |
| Treasurer | Joe Tulli |
The Fire Police Squad meets the first Tuesday of the month at Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main Street, at 7pm. If you are interested in joining the Fire Police Squad, you can obtain an application here.
The primary function of the Fire Police is to move traffic and pedestrians safely through or around emergency zones while protecting emergency workers and equipment