New Canaan Fire Elevates 2 Volunteers To Career Staff, Including First Woman
NEW CANAAN, CT — The New Canaan Fire Department recently hired two volunteers to fill some vacancies, including the first woman on the department’s career staff.
Lauren Freeland and Peter Black were both selected from the department’s volunteer fire company and will soon attend a four-month firefighter training program at the Connecticut Fire Academy.
New Canaan Fire is a combination department with both career staff and volunteers. Freeland and Black were both selected from the department’s volunteer fire company.
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“Our volunteers play a very important role in the community,” Fire Chief Albert Bassett said to Patch, “because we’re not just out responding to calls. We do a lot of community engagement, and they’re actively involved in that.”
According to Bassett, volunteers help with public education through events such as the department’s annual “Touch-a-Truck” celebration.
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“It’s basically neighbors helping neighbors when it comes to the volunteer fire company,” Bassett said.
Freeland is the first woman to serve on the career firefighter staff in the history of the department, however Bassett noted a number of women have served among New Canaan’s volunteer firefighters over the years.
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Freeland is certified as firefighter level 1, firefighter level 2, pump operator and as an emergency medical technician, according to additional press materials provided by the town.
Black is certified as a firefighter level 1 and level 2.
“Between our career and our volunteer staffs, we have a very diverse group of members now, both from within the community and the surrounding communities,” Bassett said. “It’s nice that we’re able to increase the diversity on the career side using our volunteer ranks, and that everyone works well together. It’s one of the best combination systems that I’ve ever seen…in Connecticut at least.”
New Canaan has had an organized fire department since 1881. The department transitioned from all-volunteer to the current combination model around 1912.
The town is currently protected by 24 career firefighters divided over four work groups that staff the station 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and by 24 volunteers who comprise the fire company.
Bassett said two of the most important characteristics a New Canaan Fire Department employee can possess are “being a team player” and “dedication,” the latter showcasing a willingness to step up and both learn and do different things to help the community.
“I am proud that two members of our volunteer company scored so well in all areas of the application process, including the written and oral components, to earn the career positions,” Bassett said in an additional statement sent to Patch, “and also very pleased to welcome our first female to the ranks of career firefighter.”
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