Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery: Giveaway!

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

Dear Residents,

The North Madison Volunteer Fire Company would like to remind you when you change your clocks it’s time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Day Lights Savings ends on Sunday November 1st at 2:00 am where we “fall behind” an hour. During this time, it is important to change the batteries in all of your smoke detectors as well as CO detectors. If your detectors are hard wired, please check them as many are battery back-up and the detector relies on battery if power is lost. The NMVFC is also hosting a drive up battery give a way on Saturday October 31st, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12 noon. Batteries will also be available for pick up on Tuesday November 3rd, 2020 and Tuesday November 10th, 2020 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (4 Batteries per household will be given out)

-PIO LT Justin Cappetta

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Support Local Restaurants in Madison Rotary Club first MADRaffle!

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

The Madison Rotary club is putting on their first-ever MADRaffle to support all the great restaurants in our cool seaside town. Take out or eat in, it’s up to you.

The Grand Prize winner will take home a $100 gift card to each of our participating restaurants. The Madison Rotary Foundation is purchasing every one of the gift cards for full face value, so the money spent on the cards is helping these great establishments keep doing what they do best.

https://madisonctrotaryfoundation.rotary7980gives.org/madraffle

AVAILABLE UNTIL:October 08, 2020 at 11:59 am EST

DRAWING DATE:October 08, 2020 at 6:00 pm EST

LIVE STREAM:October 08, 2020 at 6:00 pm EST

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North Madison Fire Donates Old Engine Ten-55 to Department in Indiana

by LT/PIO Justin Cappetta in General

 

North Madison Fire Company members meet with New Market Community Fire Department members at rest area in Somerset PA to turn over ownership. Photo Left to Right Lieutenant Steve Brunelle, Firefighter Ed Wolff, Chief David Cone, and New Market FD members. Photo taken by Firefighter/Company President Paul Harris. Face coverings were worn during the meeting and removed for purpose of picture.

 

 

On Saturday May 30, 2020 four North Madison Volunteer Firefighters made the trek to Somerset Pennsylvania to deliver NMVFC’s old Engine Ten-55. A 1993 KME Pumper that was purchased by the Town of Madison Brand New in 1993. The trip to PA was only the half way point to Ten-55’s final destination of New Market Indiana. The new proud owners of the engine, is the New Market Community Volunteer Fire Department. This piece of apparatus was a donation from the Town of Madison and the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company. It will be replacing an extremely out dated piece of equipment in New Market. The old Ten-55 replaces a 1968 American Barton pumper that was accepted for delivery in 1969 by Chief James H. Keller, the grandfather of the current New Market fire chief.  (Tragically, the elder Chief Keller suffered a fatal heart attack at a fire later that same year, after riding to the fire in the same truck.)  The current chief’s father and uncle have also served as fire chief.  The 1968 truck has a 300 gallon water tank and a 250 gallon per minute (GPM) pump, while Ten-55 has a 1000 gallon tank and a 1500 GPM pump. This is an obvious upgrade for this small fire department and community which has an approximate population of 700. The crew from North Madison traveled a total of 835 miles to deliver the engine and included Fire Chief David Cone, Lieutenant Steve Brunelle, Firefighter Paul Harris, and Firefighter Ed Wolff. The members from New Market Community Fire Department were ecstatic to accept this piece of apparatus that will bring their fleet and firefighting capabilities up to standard. The town of Madison is extremely lucky to have an excellent fire apparatus maintenance and replacement program that follows the standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1911. This is important to maintain to help keep our volunteer firefighters in town safe while responding with fire apparatus, as well as during fire suppression operations. The North Madison Volunteer Fire Company received in 2018 a new Ten-55 that is a 2018 Pierce Arrow XT pumper, which replaced the old 1993 KME pumper. Fire Chief David Cone thanks everyone involved for their hard work in organizing the recent donation to the New Market Community Fire Department.

 

 

Photos from the trip.

 

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Driving Tips for a Safe Winter

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

 

Written by

Janice Miller

 

When cold weather hits Connecticut, driving can get a little difficult. Icy and snowy conditions often make it much more difficult to stay safe on the road. Fortunately, there are several things you can make unfavorable conditions manageable.

 

Prepare for the Season

 

Ideally, staying safe on the road during winter starts before the cold weather really kicks in. Take your car to a trusted mechanic to get a tune-up and to check for any issues that could become more problematic once the cold sets in. One of the simplest ways to avoid breaking down in the snow is getting ahead of any mechanical problems before they start.

 

However, even the most well-tuned car can wind up having trouble in bad conditions. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you have an emergency preparedness kit in your car all season long. Make sure you have the basics, such as warm blankets and road flares to keep you and your passengers safe and warm. It’s also a good idea to have plenty of water and simple snacks in case you’re stuck for a while before help arrives. A useful inclusion many don’t consider: a good pair of waterproof, insulated gaiters. This way, should you break down in less-than-ideal footwear, your feet and lower legs will stay protected from the elements.

 

Consider the Car

 

Often, our cars have features such as anti-lock brakes that we forget about when conditions are good. At the start of the season, remind yourself of your car’s winter-ready features (or lack thereof) so you know how to handle slick and icy roads. It’s especially important to consider these things in an unfamiliar vehicle, as you may have to overcome instinct and consciously remind yourself to drive differently.

 

Plan Ahead

 

One of the most effective ways to ensure you’re driving safely in risky conditions is to plan ahead. Take some time to consider several routes to your regular destinations, and consider which ones feature the fewest hills, sharp turns, or other potential hazards.

 

Build extra time into your morning routine to check the weather, warm up the car, and scrape off any accumulated snow or ice. This is absolutely vital for driving safely. Not only does cleaning your car give you the visibility you need, but it also keeps other drivers on the road safe, too. Loose snow billowing off of your roof can create dangerous blind spots for the cars behind you. Worse, chunks of ice falling from your car can cause serious, life-threatening accidents.

 

 Take Your Time

 

One of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself safe on the road is slowing down. Accelerate slowly, decelerate slowly, increase following distance — developing patience during winter travels will go a long way toward keeping you and your passengers safe. It’s important to remember that winter weather requires you to react sooner since slick roads can compromise your ability to maneuver. If you’re going too fast, your reaction speed may not keep up.

 

One notable exception to this — if you’re going up a hill, it’s time to go. Traveling up a hill in snowy conditions is notoriously difficult, and the more momentum you have when you hit the bottom, the more likely you are to make it to the top. Don’t drive recklessly, and don’t go over the speed limit, but don’t approach the hill timidly, either. By the same token, do not slow down while ascending if you can avoid it. If you lose momentum, your odds of stopping — or worse, sliding back down — go up significantly.

 

Stay Home

 

Finally, the safest way to drive in the winter is not at all. Whenever you can manage it, simply stay home. If you know bad weather is coming, stock up on pantry goods and other staples. Try to work from home if you can, and decline invites to social outings while it’s icy out. Pay attention to snow emergency declarations, and never drive when it’s declared unsafe.

 

Driving in the winter calls for extra care. Navigating snowy or icy roads can be tricky, but with forethought and caution, you can make your winter driving as safe as possible.

 

Photo Credit: Pexels

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Thanksgiving 2019

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations.

So keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there’s a lot of activity and people at home. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

 

Top 10 safety tips
  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
  • Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
  • Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Keep knives out of the reach of children.
  • Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
  • Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Thanksgiving fire facts
  • Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and the day before Thanksgiving.
  • In 2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,600 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires.
  • Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
  • Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

Source: NFPA’s Fire Applied Research Division

 

YouTube:  National Fire Protection Association Dangers of Turkey Fires 

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Update: Santa Fundraiser 2019

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

Santa Update: 🚒🎅

Due to high demand, the workshop is at full capacity and Santa’s  sleigh is full for early delivery to Madison! The online registration is closed for this season❗️ We apologize if we missed you this year and look forward to your participation next year. From all of us at the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season.

We will be collecting gifts
Saturday, December 7th
Saturday, December 14th
12 pm -3 pm

 

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Santa Fundraiser 2019

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

Santa Claus is coming to town! 

Have your presents delivered by Santa this year.

Click the link below to register
https://nmvfc.org/santa/

We will be collecting gifts
Saturday, December 7th
Saturday, December 14th
12 pm -3 pm

 

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2019 Fire Prevention Month

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General Health

North Madison Firefighters John Brady and Sean McGovern give the preschoolers an up close look at a fire engine. Firefighters also answered many eager questions during their visit.

This year the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company continued its yearly tradition of visiting neighborhood preschools during Nation Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week. Volunteer Firefighters spoke with children regarding general fire safety, which included STOP, DROP & ROLL, the use of 911 in an emergency, and this years NFPA Fire Prevention theme of  “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape“. This theme concentrates on having a family plan when it comes to evacuating your home during a fire emergency. A great tip is always have a meeting spot outside of your home and that the whole family knows where to go in the event of a fire/emergency. Examples of meeting spots could be the mail box, a big tree in the yard, a light post, a swing set, etc. Another tip is to make sure you have more than one way to evacuate your home. Parents are encouraged to remind their children about fire safety year round, and to discuss what the “Plan” is if a fire emergency occurs. As the cold weather approaches and the clocks are set to “fall behind” an hour, we urge you to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as have chimneys and wood stove pipes cleaned to avoid fires.

Justin Cappetta

Lieutenant/Public Information Officer

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2019 Salute to Connecticut’s Bravest Firefighter of the Year: LT Justin Cappetta

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General

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!

 

 

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Important Info: 2019 Madison Fireworks

by DC Gabe Balsamo in General, Safety Tips

Madison Fireworks Event Information:
When:  Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – 9:30pm  (Rain date Friday, July 5th)
Where:  Madison, CT – waterfront area off West Wharf Beach
Public viewing locations:
The fireworks are visible from many waterfront areas in Madison.  The main public viewing locations are from Surf Club Park, East Wharf Beach and West Wharf Beach.  Parking will be very limited at parks and beaches, on public streets, and in all waterfront viewing areas.  Please obey all Madison Police Department signs and instructions for parking.  Use of the free shuttle bus service is encouraged.

Important Event Information from the Town of Madison:

Free Shuttle Bus Service:

  

Durham School Services will provide school buses to and from the intersection of West Wharf Road and Surf Club Road and the following parking lots, beginning at 7:00 p.m.:

  • Samson Rock Drive/Stop & Shop
  • Railroad Station on Bradley Road
  • Rt. 79 Commuter parking lot at I-95

Following the end of the fireworks, all busses will return commuters to these parking lots.  Buses will run until all potential passengers are accommodated

 

Parking

  • No parking will be allowed at posted areas of West Wharf and Surf Club Roads.  Permanent and temporary no parking areas will be enforced and vehicles found in a hazardous location will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense. 
  • West Wharf Beach parking lot will be cleared of vehicles from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon and again at 5:00 p.m.  Vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense.  
  • Vehicles parked at East Wharf Beach will not be allowed to leave the parking lot until all pedestrian traffic has cleared the area.
  • Parking WILL be allowed on the north sides of Middle Beach Road, Middle Beach Road West and along Island Avenue (due to a large number of planned parties).

 

Road Closures and Traffic Control:

  

The following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic in the direction noted below at approximately 8:00 p.m.

  • West Wharf Road (southbound)
  • Surf Club Road (westbound)
  • Middle Beach Road West (westbound)
  • Island Avenue (southbound)

 This closure may occur earlier if vehicle/pedestrian traffic levels are greater than normal.

 

Following the fireworks, Police Officers will direct traffic out of the Surf Club and other venues.

  • Traffic leaving the Surf Club will be directed to form two outbound lanes.
  • Vehicles in the northbound right lane of West Wharf Road will exit onto Route 1 eastbound (right); vehicles in the northbound left lane of West Wharf Road will exit onto Route 1 westbound (left)
  • There will be no inbound traffic into the Surf Club until authorized by the senior Police officer on-scene
  • No southbound traffic will be allowed on West Wharf Road.

Madison, CT Fireworks Location

Shuttle Bus & Parking:  Madison Park-and-Ride Commuter Lot, off I-95 Exit 61 at CT Route 79/Durham Road in Madison, CT.

  • From the North (Hartford): Take the I-91 south toward New Haven. In New Haven take ramp onto I-95 north toward Providence and take Exit 61/CT-79. At the end of the ramp take a left on to CT-79 and go .01 of mile and the Park-and-Ride commuter lot will be on the right hand side right before the I-95 southbound on-ramp.
  • From the East (New London & Rhode Island): Take I-95 south going toward New Haven. Take Exit 61/CT-79 toward N. Madison/Madison. Take a left at the end of ramp and another immediate left into the Park-and-Ride commuter lot.
  • From the West (New Haven & New York): Take I-95 north toward Providence and take Exit 61/CT-79. At the end of the ramp take a left on to CT-79 and go .01 of mile and the Park-and-Ride commuter lot will be on the right hand side right before the I-95 southbound on-ramp.

Surf Club Park: 87 Surf Club Road, Madison, CT 

  • From I-95, follow CT Route 79/Durham Road south for 0.8 miles and take a right onto US-1/Boston Post Rd west. 
  • Go 0.5 miles and take the 3rd left onto West Wharf Road.
  • Go 0.3 miles and take a right onto Surf Club Road. 
  • Follow 0.5 miles to the Surf Club entrance.
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