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Capt. Anthony Conforte
Upon arriving at the "fully
involved" U.S. Steel Fire on
Fairmont Av. on January
19th of 1984, New Haven
Fire Captain Anthony
Conforte is said to have
called for a 2nd alarm
following which he collapsed
onto the snow-covered
ground after suffering an
apparent heart attack.
Conforte was the 59th LODD
in the history of the New
Haven Fire Deptartment.
Firefighters Race To Save Admiral St. Building
Then Lt. Boris Starczyk (R)
and Firefighter Kevin Miller
(L) quickly advance a hose
line and are calling for water as flames tore through a building on Admiral St. in the early 1980's.
Starczyk later rose through the ranks to Battalion Chief and Miller earned the reputation as one of the department's most rugged firefighters. Both are now retired. (Kirby Kennedy photo).
Firefighters Battle Blaze On Greenwich Street
New Haven Fire Chief Michael Grant is seen in this early 1980's photo as he confers with then Chief Owens after emerging from the heat of battle at the scene of a 2-Alarm fire on Greenwich St.
The photo is one of the most riveting that we have seen and clearly shows the grit and determination that are needed to be a firefighter.
Grant was a Captain and assigned to the Training Division when the photo was taken. (NHFD photo).
Gas Tanks Burn In
New Haven
New Haven Register Photographer Kirby Kennedy won the International Association of Firefighters Media Awards contest for this 1989 photo of then Capt James Martens as he dons an SCBA after being covered with soot while fighting a fire in the New Haven Gas Co. storage tanks.
Martens, who is now retired, later rose to the rank of Battalion Chief. (Kirby Kennedy photo).
New Haven Connecticut Fire History Gallery
New Pumper Placed Into Service
New Haven, CT - Developed and manufactured by the well-known Westinghouse Co. this gasoline powered pumping engine was the first of its kind in the city. Pulled by a 2-horse team, it was stationed
at Engine 9 on Ellsworth Ave. where it continues to be remembered in firehouse photos. (NHFD Photo)
New Chemical Engine Placed Into Service
New Haven, CT - As the Fire Department gradually phased out horse-drawn apparatus in the early 1900's, this Pope-Hartford chemical engine was placed into service at the city's newly constructed Highland Street Station.
1940's
New Haven Firefighters Stand Ready
Captain Thomas Delaney (center in white shirt) and the firefighters under his command at Engine Co. 12 stand proudly beside their apparatus at the Crown St.Station. Photo is circa 1930.
Seagraves Dominate New Haven FD
For nearly 3 decades, Segrave Fire Apparatus, manufactured in Columbus Ohio, were used exclusively by the New Haven Fire Department and were distinguished by their non-traditional white color scheme. Engine 7 ran out of the Lombard St. Station
3-Alarm Fire Damages City Block
A stubborn 3 alarm fire at the Henry C. Breunig Co. on Temple St. caused heavy damage to a downtown block on March 22nd of 1954. The fire was said to have started in the basement and rapidly spread throughout the block between Temple, George and Commerce. (NHFD Photo)
1960's
15 Die in Franklin St. Fire
15 garmet factory workers perished when they became trapped on the fire escape of the Hugo Building on Franklin St. as it burned on January 24th of 1957. To date, this fire holds the city's record for loss of life by fire and is rivaled onlyby the New Haven Quilt & Pad Fire 10 years earlier that claimed 10.
Piano Factory Leveled by Flames
This dramatic photo captures the precise moment when a wall collapsed during a massive fire that destroyed the Shoniger Building at the corner of Chapel & Chestnut St. in 1960. St. Louis church directly across the street was also heavily damaged by radiant heat. (NHFD Photo)
1970's
3-Alarm Fire Damages Lincoln Furniture
Flames raced through the Lincoln Furniture building on State St. on June 18th of 1963 and were hard to reach because of a billboard on the building that can be seen on the building exterior. 20 people were able to escape from the fire without injuries.
8 Are Killed in Castle St. Arson Fire
Firefighters scramble to enter a burning apartment building at 30 Castle St. where 8 lost their lives on May 7th of 1974. This was the worst loss of life in a residential fire in New Haven history. (Capt. W. Seward photos).
2-Alarm Fire Destroys Garages, Cars
Several explosions punctuated a fierce and fast moving fire that consumed 2 garages and heavily damaged a 3rd at 362 Grand Av. on June 24th of 1983. The intensity of the moment was captured by New Haven Register Photographer Kirby Kennedy in a photo that we feel is one of our best.
1990's
1 Dead, 40 Homeless on Cedar Hill Ave.
Firefighters arrive on Cedar Hill Av. on March 4th of 1989 to find a house to be fully involved and extending to exposures. A man confined to a wheelchair died in the fire. Water supply problems were thought to be a contributing factor. Photos courtesy of Ken Cusano.
West Street House Consumed by Flames
Early arriving firefighters stretch hose lines into place and rush to protect an exposure building from a fully involved house fire on West St. in the city's Hill section on April 29th of 1991.
Flames Erupt In New Haven Auto Center
NHFD Lt. Brian Jooss was able to identify this dramatic photo of a NHFD fire crew under the direction of BC Boris Starczyk advancing on a blaze at the Mally's Auto Center on Temple & George under the Temple Street Garage on March 8th of 1994. The cause of the fire was later investigated by his father Captain Ed Jooss.
3 Alarm Fire Guts Abandoned New Haven Plant
Firefighters are shown in this classic fire photo as they battle a raging 3-alarm inferno at the abandoned Sealtest Dairy Plant on Hazel St. on June of 1994. The abandoned plant was the scene of several smaller fires prior to the conflagration that eventually consumed the structure.
2 Alarm Fire Scorches James St. House
Heavy fire was showing as firefighters arrived to extinguish a Christmas morning fire on James St. & Market St. in December of 1998. The fire also caused damage to an adjacent home and several people were left homeless. Photo by Joe Ciscone.
Fire Halts New Haven Terminal Operation
A fire involving a shipment of magnesium in the hold of a cargo ship at New Haven Terminal on Stiles St. posed a challenge to firefighters due to the volatility of the metal when mixed with water. Off loading the material proved to be the method of choice. The date of this fire is unknown.
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