LT Justin Cappetta

Fire Fighter of the Year

One of the recipients of the 2019 Connecticut District Exchange Club’s Salute

to Connecticut’s Bravest Award at the October 17th ceremony.

Lt Justin Cappetta joined Nomad in May 2016 with a wealth of fire service
knowledge and experience already under his belt. Following in his late
father’s footsteps, he was a very active member of the North Haven Fire
Dept. from 2007 to 2016, serving as lieutenant for part of his tenure. Justin
rapidly gravitated toward apparatus work. Upon his election to the rank of
lieutenant he was tasked with overall management of our fleet. This
includes day-to-day truck maintenance, supervision of monthly apparatus
maintenance details, and arranging annual inspections. He also serves as the
chair of the committee that designed our new tanker, now on order and
expect to be delivered mid-2020. A career fire fighter at the Newport Naval
Station FD, where he is currently assigned to Ladder 72, Justin continuously
works to enhance his knowledge and skills. He recently completed  Incident
Safety Officer and Aerial Operator certification classes this year. Justin is a
constant presence around the firehouse, and always has time to help other
members with an apparatus issue. His smile and always-friendly manner
makes him very approachable. He provides steady leadership both at the
firehouse and the incident. In his relatively short time with Nomad, he has
become one of the hardest-working core members of Nomad, and is well

deserving of the recognition as Connecticut’s Bravest!

Protecting Your Health After A House Fire

Written by Jennifer Amstell, a local contributor to NMVFC

A house fire is clearly an extremely hazardous situation, but there are long lasting effects that may not be as obvious. In the short-term, the hard work of the community and firefighters often makes injury unlikely, as last year’s Warpas Road blaze showed. However, smoke inhalation can lead to respiratory ailments and in the long-term will increase the risk of heart disease and COPD, according to UW Medicine. Furthermore, mold, smoke particulates and structural damage can also set in to fire damaged homes, leading to damaged health. Smart fire prevention is the first step to maintaining your safety, but in the worst case situation, there are further steps to take.

Fire damage and mold

Mold can be one of the most harmful issues in any home, let alone a smoke affected one. Mold can create and exacerbate allergies, making it advantageous to have a house as free from spores as possible. Fire damage creates the perfect conditions in which mold can flourish. For example, one notable public building fire in OR resulted in rapid onset of mold in building cavities. This creates costly and complicated cleanup costs, but most importantly, poses a risk to your family’s health. Ensure you proof your home from mold in the case of house fire and make use of professionals – Madison tech gurus CL&P are one example of companies focusing in on the effects of accidental damage.

Residual smoke particles

Many houses work with sophisticated HVAC and airflow systems that, by design, ensure pollutants in the home leave and don’t linger in rooms. To enhance this, many families now deploy air filters to improve quality further. A house fire can put paid to all of this. Extensive cleanup needs to be taken, either professionally or between the community. In the event it does not, there are risks; smoke particles will stay in the atmosphere for a long term, and as the EPA notes, this will lead to lung damage if unfiltered.

Tackling structural damage

House fires will have many obvious impacts with clean-up tackling the symptoms. However, what is less obvious is structural damage. After a house fire many home owners will ensure a full survey is carried out, and this will often be necessary in order to obtain new insurance after a payout has been completed. Despite this, problems can arise further down the line. Take a vigilant eye so you don’t lose your family home, and make sure you actively maintain your property against any potential future problems.

A house fire is a devastating incident for any family, but with the help of the fire service and community, many will move back and enjoy their home once more. As a result, it’s incredibly important to be vigilant of the potential long-term problems a post-fire home will present. Do this, and you can safeguard your happiness and your family’s health.

How to Safely React to Vehicle Fires

Written by Jennifer Amstell, a local contributor to NMVFC

You might think that vehicle fires only occur in action movies, but the truth is 33 car fires are reported every hour in the United States. November of last year saw exposed power lines fallen in Madison, illustrating that you never know when or how a fire may start. Luckily, this incident did not result in any roadside or vehicle fires, thanks to community respondents. Still, for the sake of personal safety, it’s best to be prepared by knowing what to do when faced with a vehicle fire.

Prevention

Good news; many vehicle fires can be prevented by properly maintaining the vehicle you’re driving. Most in-car fires are caused by fuel leaks or split fuel lines. Take your ride in for a tune-up once every year to make sure it’s in good working order. If your car begins to blow fuses frequently or you smell burning, get professional help asap. If you smell burning while driving and/or see smoke, pull over immediately, shut off the engine, and exit the vehicle. It’s also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in your vehicle. You never know when you might need one.

Reaction 

Car fires can happen in different areas of the vehicle; they’re not limited to under the hood. Be alert for signs of fire near areas like near the wheels/brakes, on the dash, and beneath the vehicle. If a fire does erupt but is contained, get everyone out and attempt to use a fire extinguisher if it’s easily accessible. If the fire is large, beneath the hood, or quickly spreading, don’t try to put it out yourself at this point. Get at least 200 feet away, and call for emergency assistance. If you don’t have your phone on you, do not go back in to get it. Instead, flag someone down (safely), or go to a public nearby place to ask for help.

Aftermath

Once everything is said and done, you may eventually wonder if your car is covered by your insurance in the case of fire. Contact your insurance company, take photos of the damage if possible, and get contact information for any witnesses that can testify to your claim. Before attempting to obtain any person items left in the vehicle, get a firefighter’s approval first so you know it’s safe. If the vehicle was towed before you returned to it, ask the authorities where it was taken. Finally, have the vehicle taken to a mechanic in order to determine whether or not it can be repaired to a drivable state. If it can’t, be sure to indicate this to your insurance company.

Fires are intimidating and dangerous beasts, but with fast and appropriate reactions, you can quickly tame it. Knowing what to do in an emergency and staying calm through the process can save lives.