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In the early years
of the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, drills called "field
days" were held under the guidance of the Connecticut
Drillmasters Association at Stratton Brook State Park in
Simsbury. The musters were convened annually up until some time
in the 1950's, but it is possible that more than one per year was
held. Practicing and improving on skills such as drafting, relay
pumping, hose handling and fire suppression were always primary
goals at these drills. Fire departments
from Avon, Lost Acres and Tariffville commonly participated in
the field days, as did personnel from other agencies such as
Bradley Field and the state forestry division.
The photographs in
this gallery are from the field day that was held on September
29, 1945. Many of the accompanying narrations are derived from
the back of the original photographs where photographer Horace
B. Clark made meticulous notes in pencil.
Realizing the need to bring water to a fire, Simsbury went about the business of building Engine 2 shortly after the formation of the Company. The chassis was bought from the U.S. Government and Company members had to build the 1,050 gallon tank truck from scrap parts because of the war. Engine 2 supplies three lines. No doubt it was of great interest to each department as to how much water they could deliver at a fire. Engine 1, Simsbury's LaFrance-International working into a tank truck. Avon's 300 gallon tank truck. West Hartford's fog cellar pipe. Four fog heads on a 2 1/2" pipe, supplied by two lines from Simsbury's Engine 2. West Hartford's 500 gpm Rockwood fog nozzle being supplied by two engines from Lost Acres. Two engines from Lost Acres feeding two lines each into Hartford's 4-way deluge set. A Lost Acres engine (right) relay pumps 1200' to a Tariffville engine (not shown). Engines from Avon (middle) and Simsbury (left) sit idle. Tariffville and Hartford in a three-engine relay. Avon tank truck crew on building fire. Avon tank truck crew finishing building fire. Simsbury tank truck crew with fog and foam on oil fire. Simsbury tank crew with applicator fog on oil fire.
Realizing the need to bring water to a fire, Simsbury went about the business of building Engine 2 shortly after the formation of the Company.
Photographs by
Horace B. Clark
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