New London Fire Department (Connecticut)

==Department Profile==
The New London Fire Department is a career department serving the historic port city of New London, Connecticut. The NLFD serves one of the smallest municipalities land-wise in the state - just over 6 square miles - and a population of 30,000. The NLFD responds to more than 7,000 calls a year. Other hazards the NLFD responds to are several colleges, including the US Coast Guard Academy, a built-up downtown, the various ferries running out of the historic waterfront, the sizeable Lawrence & Memorial Hospital complex, a stretch of highly-traveled Interstate 95 (including the Gold Star Bridge, which spans the mouth of the Thames River), and a large municipal beach on Long Island Sound. In addition to fire suppression and all hazards responses, the department also provides medical first responder and ambulance transport services. The department now operates out of three stations and daily operations include:
*3 Engine Companies
*1 Truck Company
*2 Ambulances
*1 Battalion
== History==
The City of New London was incorporated as a city in 1784, although the first documented history of fire protection for New London was in 1767 when Nathaniel Shaw gave the city its first fire engine. That engine was a valuable asset to the city, as demonstrated in 1781, when British forces lead by General Benedict Arnold burned New London. Local patriots. while risking their lives, were able to take and hide the engine until the British left New London 
Located on the Thames River, New London was an excellent deep-water port and quickly grew into one of the three big whaling cities of the 18th century (with New Bedford and Nantucket). 
New London's first regular fire company was established in 1786. The company was known as the George Washington’s Engine Company and was the first formal step in what is now the New London Fire Department. 
In 1805, the Connecticut Legislature empowered New London to establish a Fire Department. Over the next 100 years, numerous volunteer fire companies were formed, disbanded and reorganized as part of the New London Volunteer Fire Department. 
In 1873, the city began building a city hydrant system. 
In 1893, Sebastian Lawrence (President of the Whaling Bank of New London) had a monument built to honor New London firefighters. The monument now sits in front of the North Station on Broad Street. 
The first Paid Chief, John Stanners, was appointed in 1900; the position was made permanent in 1908. Chief Stanners served 22 years. 
In 1903, the Niagara Engine Company purchased (at its own expense) an American LaFrance steam propelled chemical and Hose wagon for $5,500.00. This unit was believed to the first self-propelled fire engine in the United States. Known as “Old Maud”, it was slow, inefficient when climbing hills and unreliable. The unit was destroyed when its boiler exploded at a fire scene in 1911. 
By 1920, the department had modernized with the completion of a city water supply system with fire hydrants and a fire alarm telegraph system with 52 fireboxes distributed throughout the city. All the companies transitioned to motorized apparatus and they began hiring paid drivers. 
William “Fat” Kiely, appointed in Nov. 1, 1922, was believed to the heaviest firefighter in the world. At the time of his death in 1939, he weighed more than 650 pounds and had a 74-inch waist. It was rumored that he slept on the fire truck, because it took too long to get from the bunks to the truck when an alarm sounded. 
The Hurricane of 1938 devastated the City of New London. The hurricane destroyed the Niagara Engine Company 1 station and heavily damaged F.L. Allen Hook and Ladder’s station. As a result, the city built a new two company brick station nearby and moved both the Niagara Engine Company and Allen Hook and Ladder into the station. Today, that station serves as Fire Headquarters for the NLFD. 
In the late 1960’s, Konomoc’s station on Union Street was closed and the Konomocs were moved into Fire Headquarters and consolidated with Allen and Niagara companies. 
In the 1970’s, the department continued to change. While volunteers still served, the department was moving towards a fully career department. Additionally, with the loss of the Konomoc’s and Thomas stations, the city decided to consolidate several companies and stations and build modern stations. The North Station on Broad Street was built and opened in 1977 and the South Station on Lower Boulevard was complete and opened in 1979. Shortly after that, the City closed the Riverview Avenue station.
In the 1970’s the Department also adopted the apparatus/radio ID system used in the area. New London companies were designated as A, with the second digit identifying the station and third identify the type of equipment. For example, A-11 designated Engine 1 out of Station 1 (HQ Station). Ladders were identified with a 5, i.e., A-25. 
The NLFD had is first female volunteer firefighter, Patricia Nunes in 1985 when she joined the Niagara Engine Company. In 1988, NLFD hired its first female career firefighter, Bridget Yuknat. 
The NLFD ended active volunteer firefighters service in the early 1990’s, although they did remain as a social organization. 
In 1996, the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory located near Fort Trumbull closed and disbanded the federal fire department that protected the Center. The departments apparatus was transferred to the NLFD.
===Original Fire Companies===
Starting around 1800 as the city grew, numerous fire companies were formed, disbanded and reorganized. In addition to fire related services, these companies also were social organizations and often had a large amount of political power. By 1849, a core group of four fire companies had been established. Those companies became the basis of the current City of New London Fire Department. By 1900, there were six active companies and by 1910, the last two volunteer companies had formed. A brief history of each volunteer company is listed below. 
==== Niagara Engine Co. 1====
Originally organized in 1786 as the George Washington Engine Company. In 1844 they reorganized as the Niagara Company (named for the company that built their pumper). In 1850, they disbanded and reorganized as Niagara Engine Co. 1. The Niagara Engine Company is the oldest fire company in New London, although that service is not continuous. 
====F.L. Allen Hook & Ladder Co. 1 ====
The “Hooks” was established in 1866 (and named in honor of the mayor). The “Hooks” was the city’s first ladder company and operated out of a station at 243 Bank Street. After the 1938 hurricane heavily damaged that station, the city built its current headquarters station just up the street. Both the Niagara Engine Company and F.L. Allen Hook and Ladder were moved to the new station. 
====Nameaug Engine Co. No. 2====
The Nameaug (Nameaug is the original Pequot Indian name for the New London area) Engine Company was formed in 1850 after starting as the Reliance Company and later the Independent Blues. The City Council appropriated funds for a hose cart and new hose for this reformed company. Several of the other city companies were upset because they didn’t receive funding, and voted to disband in protest. For several weeks, the Nameaugs were the only active fire company in New London. This allows the Nameaugs to claim to be the oldest, continuously operating fire company in the city. 
====W.B. Thomas Hose Co. No. 3====
Originally formed in the early 1800’s as the Relief Hose Company, the company disbanded in 1850 over the Nameaug dispute. They reformed in 1861 and have operated out of several locations, moving to the Williams Street location in 1905. In 1939 they built their second station on Williams Street and operated out of there until that station was demolished to make way for a second span of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in 1970.
====Konomoc Hose Co. 4====
Organized in 1873, the company disbanded briefly in 1874 after allegations that some of their members may have been responsible for a series of small fires. The company reformed in 1876. 
In 1925, the company purchased a 75’ aerial tiller and became Konomoc Ladder Co. 2. The company operated out of a station at 66 Union Street, which also served as Fire Headquarters until the late 1960’s. At that time the department consolidated the company with the Niagara Engine Co and F.L. Allen Hook and Ladder in their Bank Street station. 
====C.L. Ockford Hose Co. 5====
Established in 1895, Ockford (named for Chief C.L. Ockford who served as New London Fire Chief from 1894 to 1899) operated out of a residence until 1902, when a fire damaged the residence. A new building was built adjacent to the residence on what is now Shaw Street and they operated from there until 1943. In 1943, they moved to a larger (2 bay) Riverview Avenue station. The Riverview Ave. station was closed after the city constructed a new South Station on Lower Boulevard in 1979. The Ockfords were then consolidated with the Pequots in the South Station.
====Pequot Engine Co. 6====
Organized in 1906 by Col. E.T. Kirkland to serve the Pequot Colony (southern section of the City) and operated out of a private resident’s stable. In 1909, they applied to the City for formal recognition and to receive financial support. In 1922, the building was expanded to twice its original size. It was the City’s only company owned station. The Pequot and Ockford companies were consolidated into South Station.
====Northwest Hose Co. 7====
Organized in 1908 by some influential citizens, the Northwest Hose Company provided protection for the northwestern portion of the city. In 1920 they became an engine company with the purchase of a Seagrave Triple Combination pumper and built a new station on Brainard Road to house the engine. 
===Fire Stations===
Address 	Company 	In Service 	Notes
243 Bank Street 	F.L. Allen Hook & Ladder Co. 1	1867 - 1944 	Damaged in the Hurricane of 1938. Building is now office building.
Church Street 	Reliance Hose Co. 5
Konomoc Hose Co. 4	1844 – 1906 	Konomoc Hose Co. 4 relocated to Union Street. Station no longer exists
66 Union Street 	Konomoc Hose Co. 4 	1906 – 1970’s	Station served as NLFD Fire HQ. Demolished in the early 1970’s.
26 Masonic Street 	Nameaug Engine Co. 2 	1850 – 1970’s	Station was demolished early 1970s
245 Shaw Street 	C.L. Ockford Hose Co. 5 	1895 - 1943 	Company relocated to Riverview Ave. Building is now occupied by a HVAC Company
389 Williams Street	W.B. Thomas Hose Co. 3 	1905 – 1970 	Original Station built 1905. Second station was built on same property in 1940.Second station demolished to accommodate a second I-95 Gold Star Memorial Bridge Span.
25 Lower Boulevard 	Pequot Engine Co. 6 	1908 – 1970’s	Station razed in the 1970s and current South Station built on the site.
58 Brainard Street 	Northeast Hose Co. 7 	1920- 1970’s 	Building has been a restaurant and is currently a residence.
50 Riverview Avenue	C.L. Ockford Hose Co. 5 	1943 – 1970’s	Building is now multi family residential units.
Today, the NLFD's 3 stations still bear the names of the companies that helped form them or ultimately consolidated with other companies into those new stations. 
* The Headquarters station displays the names Niagara Engine Co. 1 and F.L. Allen Hook and Ladder,
*The North Station displays the name W.B. Thomas Hose Company and Northeastern Hose Company, and;
*The South Station bears the name of the Pequot Engine Company and the Ockford Hose Company.
These companies were formally disbanded in 1995; however, they had stopped being active volunteer companies long before they were formally disbanded.
===Line of Duty Death===
On February 1, 1993, the NLFD suffered an LODD when 35-year veteran Lieutenant John O’Connor suffered a heart attack while battling a two-alarm fire on Truman Street.
==Apparatus Roster==
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
===Fire Headquarters - 289 Bank Street (Downtown)===
Central Station and Administration
:Engine 1 - 2018 Ferrara Igniter (1500/500/50F)
:Ambulance 100 - 2020 Ram 4500 4x4 / Life Line Superliner
: Battalion Chief - 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
:A2 - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (Ex-Battalion Chief)
: Fire Marshal - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
:Fire Marshal - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
=== North Station - 240 Broad Street===
Station 2
:Engine 2 - 2020 Pierce Enforcer (1500/750) (SN#33953) (Ex-demo)
:Truck 2 "Whaling City Truckin' Co." - 2021 Pierce Velocity 7000 6x4 (-/-/100' Ascendant mid-mount platform) (SN#35760) (Ex-field unit)
:Ambulance 200 - 2022 Ram 5500 4x4 / Horton
===South Station - 25 Lower Boulevard===
Station 3 
:Engine 3 - 2024 E-One Typhoon (1500/750)
:Engine 4 (Spare) - 2010 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1250/750) (Ex-Engine 3, ex-Engine 2, ex-A-11)
:Truck 3 (Spare) - 2007 Seagrave Marauder II (-/-/100' tractor-drawn) (Ex-Truck 2, ex-A-25)
:A-38 - 2005 Freightliner M2 106 / Pierce Contender walk-in hazmat (SN#16638-xx) (Part of the State Haz-Mat Task Force)
:Ambulance 300 (Spare) - 2017 Ram 4500 4x4 / Life Line (Ex-Ambulance 200)
:Ambulance 400 (Spare) - 2007 Ford F-350 / AEV Traumahawk
: Unit 1 - John Deere 6x6 UTV
: Unit 2 - John Deere 6x6 UTV
: Unit 3 - John Deere 6x6 UTV
:ACSI Mass Decon trailer
:SCBA support trailer
===Assignment Unknown===
:Fire Investigation - 2010 Ram 4500 / AEV Trauma Hawk
==Retired Apparatus== 
:2018 Pierce Arrow XT 5700 aerial (-/-/100' Ascendant mid-mount platform) (SN#31615) (Ex-demo) (Ex-Truck 2) (Unit was replaced by Pierce at no cost due to ongoing electrical issues) (Eventually resold to Bridgewater Fire Company (Virginia))
:2010 Ram 4500 / AEV Trauma Hawk ambulance (First configuration) (Transformed into a Fire Investigation unit)
:2001 Ferrara Inferno pumper (1250/750) (SN#H-1657 or H-1658) (Ex-Engine A-31, ex-Engine 3)
:2000 Ford E-450 / Wheeled Coach ambulance (Ex-Ambulance 100)
:2001 Ferrara Inferno pumper (1250/750) (SN#H-1657 or H-1658) (Ex-Engine A-21, Ex-Engine 4)
:2000 Ford F-350 / Wheeled Coach ambulance
:1994 KME Renegade pumper (1250/500) (Ex-Naval Underwater Sound Lab New London Fire Department, acquired by NLFD following the facility's 1996 closure) (Ex-A-11, ex-A-41)
:1992 Sutphen Deluge aerial (-/-/100' mid-mount platform) (Ex-Truck A-25, ex-Truck A-35)
:1987 Ford C / FMC pumper (1250/500)
:1987 Ford C / FMC pumper (1250/500)
:1986 Dodge Power Ram brush/service unit (Ex-A-14)
:1980 Spartan / FTI pumper (1250/500) (Ex-Naval Underwater Sound Lab New London, acquired by NLFD in 1996, retired 2008) (Ex-A-43)
:1977 American LaFrance Pioneer pumper (1000/750) (Ex-A-41)
:1977 American LaFrance Century aerial (-/-/85' tractor-drawn) (Ex-A-35, retired 2007)
:1975 American LaFrance Pioneer pumper (1000/500) (Donated to Cuerpo de Bomberos de la Republica Dominica)
:1970 Ward LaFrance Ambassador pumper (1000/500)
:1968 American LaFrance 900 Series aerial (-/-/100' mid-mount)
:1966 Mack C-Model pumper (1000/500)
:1954 Seagrave pumper (750/500)
: 1952 Seagrave aerial (-/-/85' tractor-drawn)
: 1950 Seagrave pumper (750/150)
: 1948 Seagrave pumper (750/150)
:1943 Seagrave pumper (750/150)
:1943 Seagrave pumper (750/150)
:1942 Seagrave aerial (-/-/65' mid-mount) (Sold to Waterford Fire Engine Company 1)
:1942 Ward LaFrance pumper (750/100)
:1940 International D-Series rescue van
:1940 Ford civil defense pumper
:1940 Dodge / FD-built pumper
:1928 REO Hose wagon
:1926 Ahrens-Fox pumper (900/60)
:1925 Seagrave aerial (-/-/75')
: 1921 Seagrave pumper (750/80)
: 1920 Seagrave pumper (750/80)
:1920 American LaFrance pumper (750/80)
:1919 American LaFrance chemical car/hose wagon
: 1917 Seagrave pumper (750/80)
:1916 Seagrave city-service ladder
:1914 Thomas Flyer / locally-built chemical car/hose wagon
:1913 Pope Manufacturing Company chemical car/hose wagon
:1913 American LaFrance pumper (800?/35)
:1912 Oldsmobile / locally-built manpower squad
:1904 American LaFrance chemical car/hose wagon
==External Links==
*New London Fire Department
==Station Map ==
== Sources==
*Samul, T. (2006). New London Firefighting. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN:9781439633892
*Marshall, B.T. (Ed.). (1922). A Modern History of New London Connecticut (Vol. II). Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
Category:New London County
Category:Departments operating ACSI apparatus
Category:Connecticut departments operating E-One apparatus
Category:Connecticut departments operating Ferrara apparatus
Category:Connecticut departments operating Seagrave apparatus
Category:Connecticut departments operating Rosenbauer apparatus
Category:Connecticut departments operating Pierce apparatus
Category:Former operators of Ahrens-Fox apparatus
Category:Former operators of American LaFrance apparatus
Category:Former operators of FTI apparatus
Category:Former operators of KME apparatus
Category:Former operators of Mack apparatus
Category:Former operators of Sutphen apparatus
Category:Former operators of Ward LaFrance apparatus