1944 - SIMSBURY WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION!

That may have been the headline 75 years ago if not for a group of Simsbury residents who stepped up to form and organize the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company when Ensign Bickford informed the town that it could no longer provide fire response service to the town due to the impact of World War II.

Working in partnership with the Simsbury Fire District (who is also celebrating 75 years of service) the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, starting with 1 engine and a hand full of volunteer residents, has seen significant growth and modernization as it continues to provide the highest level of fully trained fire and rescue services. The SVFC continues to reply on Simsbury residents to volunteer to be trained and state certified as firefighters.

This year we begin our celebration of 75 years of volunteer fire service to the Town of Simsbury.  There are many events being planned over the next 12 months beginning with the Rotary's Simsbury River Run Road Race - Held Sunday April 28th on Iron Horse Blvd -  While the weather didn't cooperate it certainly didn't dampen the sprit of the celebtration nor the spirit of the runners who came in support of this event and our kick off anniversary event. We wish to thank all who ventured out to run, walk, or just to support this great running event.  

21st ANNUAL SIMSBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY & LADIES AUXILIARY GOLF TOURNAMENT- held Thursday June 13th at Simsbury Farms Golf Course.  This annual fund rasing event was enjoyed by a 160+ golfers this year and despite the cold raining day it was a fun day for all. We were happy to be back at Simsbury Farms as we celebrated our 75th anniversary during this event.  Mark your 2020 calendars for June 11th! 

FAMILY CHICKEN BBQ  - Was held on Saturday June 29th at the Weatogue Fire Training Grounds / Weatogue Park.  A bit of a throw back from yesteryear featuring a good fashion fresh cooked Chicken Dinner with Corn on the Cob, Baked Potato, Salad, Roll and Fresh Strawberry Shortcake for Dessert!  There was music entertainment provided by our own high school battle of the bands winners, old fashion carnival style games such as Hoopla, Nickle Pitch and Fish toss for the kids reminiscent of old Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Carnivals held on these grounds years back.  We even brought back our Hi-Striker and Dunking booth which included "dunkiees"  like our own Fire Chief Jim Baldis, Police Chief Nick Boulter, and Ambulance Chief Karin Stewart!  NBCCT Meteoroligist Bob Maxon made an appearence in the dunking booth too!  A firefighting themed "firefighter challenge" activity for the kids was very popular with gear for the kids to wear, fire hose, teddy bear rescue and more. It was a great time and we thank all those to came to help up celebrate our 75th birthday!

 NEXT EVENT!

75th ANNIVERSARY FIRE TRUCK PARADE - September 8th at 12 noon on Iron Horse Blvd - In partnership with the Simsbury SeptemberFest the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company and Simsbury Fire District will put on parade all our Fire Apparatus and mobile equipment which was a feature of the old carnival days over 20 years ago. Come see our first fire truck Engine 1 and dozens of other fire trucks as Iron Horse Boulevard will be filled with Fire Trucks and Equipment for the young and old to see and enjoy. The Parade will also feature fire apparatus from neighboring towns who are invited to attend.  Following the parade SeptemberFest will be open for all to enjoy.

Through the efforts of the Simsbury Fire District, The Town of Simsbury's Public Safety Committee and Emergency Management, Simsbury has it's own radio station which will benefit the communityduring emergencies but will also provide commercial free music, information and live broadcasts from a variety of events around town.

Following the infamous October Snowstorm of 2011, Simsbury was left with no power and failing cell systems as back up power systems began to fail after prolonged use.  The Board of Selectman's Public Safety Subcommittee felt that we needed some sort of communication ability that would give our residents a way to get information that was not dependent on the internet, cell phone or other connected technology.  

What we felt was needed was an old fashion radio system that most everyone could access from home or automobile with a simple radio.  That started the ball rolling and the town's Emergency Manager, Kevin Kowalski, along with the Simsbury Fire District began the journey of getting Simsbury it's own radio station.  

After testing an AM System it was determined that a Low Power (LP) FM system would work best for our town.  As they say... "Timing is everything".... and we found ourselves with a licensing opportunity that would normally take years to accomplish.  With the help of some Simsbury resident volunteers who have some inside radio station knowledge, the application for the license was submitted and ultimately approved.  After the construction phase which included securing equipment and building out a studio (which is at the Main Fire Station) WSIM 103.5 LPFM station was introduced to the community with limited broadcasting.  

Over the next several months, work was done to create a library of music which would allow us to broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The creation of this library was the work of Simsbury Volunteer Firefighter Joe Barrett who is a music aficionado.  While putting this library together Joe, who is also a registered minister, began to put together a live broadcast schedule 3 days a week. "Rocking Reverend Joe" holds his live broadcasts on Wednesday Evenings from 7 to 9, Friday Evenings from 7 to 9 and on Sundays from 4pm to 7pm where he not only plays tunes but provides a bit of history about the music which is rarely ever heard on radio stations elsewhere.  Also the Station has become noted for playing often forgotten songs which brings a sense of nostalgia to its listening audience.

Through the work of volunteers WSIM will continue to expand its broadcasting abilities and is gearing up to provide emergency information broadcasts if the need arises.  The station has also begun and will expand public service safety messages from notables like Sparky the Fire Prevention Dog and McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog just to name a few. 

The ability to do live offsite broadcasts is also in the development stages right now which will allow WSIM to broadcast from remote locations during emergencies but will also allow us to develop live local high school sports broadcasts.

The community of Simsbury will be one of only a handful of communities in the country with a commercial free radio service that is run by Emergency Management Services and is dedicated to the community to provide emergency information, local safety information, entertainment and local content such as High School sports.

Please tune us in at 103.5 on your radio and follow us on Facebook at WSIM RADIO

Here are some stories posted from various sources about the radio station:

http://www.courant.com/community/simsbury/hc-simsbury-fire-radio-station-20151026-story.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONwyuwaRwhA

http://wtnh.com/2016/05/19/fm-radio-station-run-by-local-volunteer-fire-department/

The Simsbury Fire Department will issue an Open Burn Permit to residents.  The permit is available on our website www.simsburyfire.org . Please note the Type of Open Burn and General Conditions as noted on the Open Burn Permit.

Type of Open Burn

Camp fires shall be fireplace size logs three inches in diameter or larger. There shall be NO burning of brush or leaves.

Camp Fire / Bon Fire (Public Gathering)

Agriculture Burning

Firefighter Training 

General Conditions

1. Burning must not take place (a) during an advisory of threatening atmospheric conditions or any other air pollution emergency episode or (b) during a period when the forest fire danger is high or extreme.

2. Burning must cease if so directed by the local Open Burning Official or Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company or State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

3. No objectionable odors or excessive smoke may be created. All reasonable measures to assure complete combustion are to be taken.

4. All reasonable safety precautions are to be taken, including the clearing of grass and trees in the burning areas wetting down of the surrounding area, and placing of fire extinguishers.

5. Only these materials and those quantities specified above may be burned.

With the severe drop in temperature it’s recomended to dress in layers when you need to go outside and limit the time pets are outside.

Uncovered skin is at risk for frostbite and your body temperature can drop quickly.  

For other valuable information please review the Cold Weather Safety Tips from The American Red Cross.

http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Top-Ten-Red-Cross-Cold-Weather-Safety-Tips

Also, visit the FEMA website for more information  http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather  and this CDC site   http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/default.html

If you, a relative or friend needs to find a Warming Center you have access to that information by dialing 211 or vistiting this website, http://www.211ct.org/default.asp

The web page for Warming Centers is http://www.211ct.org/ICarol/211Search.aspx?searchTerm=cold+weather+shelter&town=-1