News
Governor Rell says DEP firefighters return today from battling forest fires in Quebec
By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$]
Jul 1, 2010 - 10:46 AM

Governor M. Jodi Rell said today that firefighters from Connecticut who have spent the past two weeks battling forest fires north of Quebec City in Canada are expected to return home this evening. The 12 crew members, who are employees of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are scheduled to arrive back at DEP’s Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough today at 6 p.m.

“We are so pleased that this skilled and dedicated crew is returning home safely,” Governor Rell said. “We thank these 12 individuals for the sacrifices they have made and the hard work they have performed, and we thank their families for sharing them for this important mission.”

The 12 firefighters left Connecticut June 15 to assist with wildfire fighting in the Province of Quebec. The Province of Quebec and the State of Connecticut are members of the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Compact, which dates back to 1949, and is comprised of seven states, four Canadian Provinces and the New England National Forests. All of the expenses associated with this firefighting assignment will be reimbursed by the Province of Quebec.

The fire fighters worked on a fire comprising about 150,000 acres approximately 100 miles northwest of Quebec City. They assisted with the protection of structures near Relais, Quebec and used chainsaws, pumps and hose to work on the fires. Wednesday they moved to Roberval, Que to meet a return jet to the states.’

The firefighters are flying today to Manchester, NH and will then be bused to the DEP Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough.

DEP maintains a roster of agency staff members and personnel from local fire departments that have been certified to fight forest or wildfires. Crewmembers must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual renewal course. Connecticut maintains this firefighting capability to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Under this program, trained personnel from other parts of the nation are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency – in return for personnel from this state being available to assist elsewhere. A response to a Northeast Compact request falls under different laws and agreements so only DEP staff can respond.

The Crewmembers are:

Eric Gileau Preston

Stacey Pappano Windsor

Geoffrey Krukar Torrington

Matthew Quinn New Hartford

Deborah Corcoran Mansfield

Richard Scalora Berlin

David Keating Waterbury

Michael Shaw Torrington

Michael Senyk Glastonbury

Sara Radacsi Farmington

Raymon Knoop Essex

Richard Schenk Hampton

Directions to DEP’s Eastern District Headquarters: Take Route 2 to exit 13. Follow Rte. 66 East approximately two miles. DEP’s Eastern District Headquarters is on the left side – 209 Hebron Avenue (Rte. 66) – with Smokey Bear out front.

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