Saturday evening March 27 we will be holding a Comedy Show featuring three professional comedians.  Opening the evening will be comedian Mary Ann Nichols.  Mary Ann is known as "The National Poster Girl for Menopause".  "You don't want to miss the show that was packing them in at such places as Funny Bones, The Improv & Caroline's".  Mary Ann has also won national acclaim as a finalist on Star Search II, she opened for entertainment legends like the Temptations & Bobby Vinton.  The second act has yet to be booked.  The headliner for the evening is Coleman Green.  Coleman has headlined on shows coast to coast with such powerhouse acts as D.L. Hugley. He was also one of the feature entertainers at Laffapalooza, the Urban International Comedy Festival, where he was recognized as one of the hottest new talents in the country,  Doors will open at 8:00PM.  Light buffet will be from 8:00-9:00PM.  The first act starts at 9:00PM.  There will be a DJ and Dancing immediately following the show until midnight.  There will be a cash bar.  Tickets are $20.00 and going fast.  Contact Jay Hurlock at 302-632-3445 for tickets.

Once again this year the company attended the I Love Smyrna School District and handed out Fire Prevention material to those in attendance. As in years past several thousand citizens attended the event.

Saturday evening before dinner the crew of Deputy Chief Jeff Hurlock, Driver Jay Hurlock, Capt. Mike Lucas and Firefighters Alex Carrow, Joe Jones, and Mike Mareno on Engine 45-3 stood by at Christiana Sta 12 on Main St. while their members attended their annual banquet.  While their the crew from45-3 responded on 5 of Christiana's 7 calls that evening.  The calls began with Sta 3 units taking in an assist to Newark on a House fire at 19:18.  While Sta 3 units were responding to that call 45-3, 3-4, A-3 responded at 19:20 to an MVC on I-95 near the service area.  At 22:46 Sta 3 units again responded to Newark to assist on a working Townhouse fire.  While Sta 3 units were committed on that scene 45-3 & 23-2 responded at 23:22 for an MVC on Rt40.  Engine 45-3 arrived and found a 2 vehicle MVC with a door pop. Just after midnight at 00:56 Engine 45-3 was dispatched to a townhouse fire in Christiana's first due.  Shortly after returning from that call at 01:07 they were sent to assist EMS units on scene with Chest Pains, the crew from the engine assisted with lifting.  The final call for the evening came in at 05:16 again to assist Newark on a apartment building fire.   The call originally came in as alarm bells sounding while enroute the call was upgraded when Fireboard received calls for smoke in the building.  Engine 45-3 was first on scene and took up the first engine companies assignment.  Crews found police already on scene evacuating the building with smoke in the basement.  The crew  stretched a 400' 1 3/4" to the basement finding fire in a large trash container.  The sprinkler system had contained the fire.  Crews extinguished the remaining fire checked for extension and assisted with smoke removal.   The Crew from45-3 were back at station 45 just after 08:00am Sunday morning.  The crew from 45-3 would like to thank Christiana for their hospitality while they were covering their first due. 

Friday morning the area woke up to 2"-3" of snow and strong winds that at time gusted to over 40mph.  Shortly after noon at 12:09 Sta 45, Amb 64, KM6, & Trooper 4 were alerted for the MVC with a roll over.  Command 45 w/ Asst. Chief Lightcap arrived to find a single vehicle on its side with all occupants out.  EMS units from A-64 & KM6 arrived and treated one pediatric patient and transported to KGH.  Rescue 45 w/6, Lt Davis was assigned to secure the vehicle on their arrival.  Engine 45-4 w/6, Firefighter Alex Carrow was recalled while enroute.  Command placed the scene under control at 12:28.  There were 28 members who responded on the call.    Later in the afternoon at 15:16 Sta 45 was dispatched for the house fire 204Century Dr. in the Brenford Woods Dev.  Command 45 w/Asst. Chief Lightcap, Engine 45-3 w/6, Capt. Ross, Quint 45 w/6, Past Chief Wes Davis and Rescue 45 w/7, Firefighter Kevin Crews arrived to find smoke detectors going off on the 2nd floor. Crews fromengine 45-3 & Quint 45 checked the residence and found a smoke detector sounding due to water that had entered it..  Command placed the scene under control at 15:37.  The company had 30 members respond on the call. 

For the second time in a week the area has been hit with a major winter storm.  Snow began falling Tuesday evening just after dinner and by lunch time Wednesday close to 6" of snow had fallen.  A total of about a foot of snow fell during the storm.  That along with winds gusting close to 50 mph closed many roads.  The station was manned by several crews and have responded to close to a dozen calls.  All total between the two storms the station responded to2 dozen calls.  Several structures throughout the region have had damage due to structural collapses.  The roof at the Townsend Fire Station Sta 26 collapsed over their engine room and banquet facility.  At one point several mutual aid company's were assisting Sta 26 with covering their district. We also assisted in housing 2 of Sta 26's engines at our station until they were able to find temporary quarters.  By the end of the day Sta 26 was back in service covering their first due area.  Again the Officers would like to thank all the member for their many hours put in during the storm.

At the monthly meeting Vice President Whalen on behalf of President Pridemore recognized members for their service to the company.    

During the regular monthly meeting in February Vice President Rodney Whalen award the member of the month for January 2010 to Richard W. Locke.  During the month Richard attended the following; 21 out of 26 fire calls, 4 fund raising events, 2 misc functions, 4 drills, i uniform event, and the company meeting for a total of 39 point for the month.  The officers would like to thank Richard for all his dedication during the month.

At the February company meeting Vice President Rodney Whalen present the member of the month award for December 2009 to Michael S. Lucas.  The award was not able to be presented at the January meeting due to a conflict.  During the month of December 2009 Mike attended the following; 23 out of 26 fire calls, 6 fund raising events, 12 misc, activities, 1 drill, and the company meeting for a total of 47 point for the month of December.  The officers would like to thank Mike for his hard work and dedication.

A snow storm that started on Friday night and ended late Saturday night dump as much as 30" of snow on the area.  During the storm crews staffed several pieces of equipment and responded to 8 calls.  Two of the calls were to rescue motorists stranded in vehicles in snow drifts, the company also responded to a couple electrical hazards, house fire, cardiac arrest and a of couple calls to assist ems.  The officers would like to thank all those members that took time away from their families to protect those in our first due area.  We would also like to thank the families for allowing our members to spend time away from home. 

The company would like to welcome its newest member.  Samuel Richard Sawyer was born Friday February 5, 2010.  Samuel is the 2nd child of Nick Sawyer and his wife Karen and will be welcomed home by big sister Samantha.  Samuel weighted in at 7lbs 5 oz. and is 20 inches long. Congratulations to Nick, Karen and Samantha.

 

Friday morning at 05:35 the station was alerted for the Ladder to assist Queen Anne's County Sta 7 Crumpton on the 2nd alarm for the structure fire at Main St & 4th St in Crumpton.  Quint 45 w/6, Capt. Lucas responded within a couple minutes.  The Command officer also requested the Tanker Task Force when he struck the 2nd alarm and upon arrival requested a 3rd alarm alarm bringing Engine 45-3, Ladder 44, Engine 44-3, Tanker 51, Engine 51-3, and Engine 56-1 from Kent County De.  Engine 45-3 w/5, Past Chief Whalen responded.  Queen Anne & Kent County Md units arrived to find a structure well involved and spreading to several others.  The crews from Quint 45 and 45-3 assisted with extinquishment and overhaul.  Engine 45-3 was directed to the draft site at Crumpton landing to fill trucks shuttling water to the scene.  Clayton had 24 members respond on the call and had an additional crew in the station.  The last Clayton unit was back in station at 08:25 am.   Other Kent County units responding were Engine 43-4 covered QAC Sta 7 (Crumpton), Engine 46-4 covered QAC Sta 6 (Sudlersville), Engine 41-3 covered Kent County Md Sta 2 (Millington).   Photo's courtesy of Nevin Steffy from Millington Md. 

On Monday evening January 25th the company gathered for a training class on “MAYDAY”. The class was taught by training advisor Ray Johnson who played a video that discussed a “MAYDAY” incident that occurred in Fairfax County Md. where Ray works.  The video interviewed those involved in the incident. The class also went over Kent County’s “MAYDAY” policy and the different points of the policy. The beginning of the class members heard Asst. Chief Robbie Brode from Sta. 50 played a tape and talked about his “MAYDAY” from December 2008 and some of the issue’s that he came across during his incident. The company would like to thank Chief Brode for taking the time to discuss his incident with us. The company had 52 members attend the class. During the class the station was dispatched for a Ladder Company along with an Engine Company from Sta 44 to assist Sta 26 (Townsend) on a house fire 124 Ponders Lane. Quint 45 w/6, Asst. Chief Lightcap and Engine 45-3 w/7, Capt Ross were on the street in less than a minute.  Units staged on their units until returned by Townsend Command.       

Bertha Hudson was awarded the first ever 2009 Ladies Auxiliary Member of the Year.  Bertha attended 10 meetings, 30 of 32 functions, attended county meetings and the annual Delaware State Fireman's Conference.  Congratulations to Bertha Hudson for her outstanding accomplishment. 

Surrounded by the past fire chiefs in attendance, James L. Cubbage Jr. was named Fire Chief Emeritus from the fire company.  Jim became only the 4th person in the 118 year history of the fire company to receive this distinguished award.  The other members are E. Reynolds Bradley (Honorary Chief Emeritus) of the Citizens Hose Co. of Smyrna, William R. Carrow, both of who are deceased and Robert E. Berghorn.  Jim was recognized not only for his 45 years of dedicated service to the Clayton Fire Company but for his dedication to the fire service on a local, state, regional, and national level.  Jim received a resolution from the company along with testaments from the Kent County Levy Court Pres. P. Brooks Banta, State Senator Bruce C. Ennis, 14th Dist.  State Representative William  Carson, 28th Dist., Governor of Delaware Jack Markell  and U.S. Senator Tom Carper.  Jim was also presented with a white helmet with a gold leaf shield with his new title on it.  Also during the presentation the company present Chief Emeritus Robert E. Berghorn with a white helmet with gold leaf shield to recognize his prior award as a Chief Emeritus.  The company would like to congratulate Jim for his award and thank him for his numerous years of dedicated service to the fire service.  

     

During the Annual Appreciation Banquet Associate Member Cheryl Hurlock was name the 2009 recipient of the William R. Carrow Memorial Award for Fireman of the Year.  Cheryl, since joining the company has continued to excel and with her never say no attitude proved to be a great asset to the company.  Cheryl is also an active member and officer of the ladies auxiliary.  Cheryl with her hard work on the fund raising committee along with other members have done an outstanding job raising funds during this trying financial times.  During 2009 Cheryl attended the following;  48 fire calls, 71 fund raising events, 81 misc events, 24 drills, 10 uniform events and 12 company meetings for a total of 292 points.  The officers and members of the fire company would like to thank Cheryl for her hard work and dedication.