A lot is happening at our October meeting, which will be a joint session with the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association on Thursday, October 30th, during the New England Association of Fire Chiefs Annual Conference.

One of our key discussion topics will be legislative initiatives. If you have any requests or ideas, please share them in advance so they can be included in our discussion.

We have also been invited to attend the keynote address presented by Chief Fennessy and Chief Niemeyer, who will share their insights on the destruction, recovery, and lessons learned from three major wildfire events:
• The Camp Fire in Paradise, California (2018)
• The Maui Fires (2023)
• The Palisades Fire (2025)

Chief Starkel has once again gone above and beyond by securing the hospitality room and providing coffee and Danish for our morning meeting, all at no cost to the associations. Thank you, Chief Starkel!

Later that evening, the Memorial Service will be held to honor fallen Fire Chiefs, including A/C Peter Blomberg from Botsford Fire (Newtown) Line of Duty Death, and SWFD Deputy Chief David Papp. Following the service will be the annual membership meeting, during which Chief Starkel will be sworn in as President of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, a Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

An election will also be held for the position of Secretary/Treasurer, and one of the nominees is Connecticut’s own Chief Ken Richards, Jr. from Old Mystic. Your support for Chief Richards would be greatly appreciated.