RETIREMENT

TODAY, THE LONGEST SERVING DISPATCHER IN FIRE MUTUAL AID’S HISTORY WILL BE HONORED WITH A RETIREMENT PARTY. WINSTON WRIGHT OF FITZWILLIAM HAS SERVED SINCE 1965 IN BOTH A FULL TIME AND PART TIME CAPACITY. FELLOW DISPATCHERS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH WIN HAVE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HIM AND THAT IS DEDICATION! WIN WORKED HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS AND CAME TO WORK SOME TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE NOTICE AND RARELY SAID THAT HE COULD NOT WORK A SHIFT WHEN ASKED. THE STAFF AT FIRE MUTUAL AID HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR WIN FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE.Pictured is Retired Chief Paul Szoc (left) and Dispatcher Winston Wright receiving his 40 years of service award in 2005.

FATAL 2ND ALARM FIRE IN HALIFAX

From the Brattleboro Reformer:HALIFAX >> Fire officials believe a man in his early 30's died while attempting to save his dog in a house fire.

"(Ray White Jr.) woke up first and hollered to his friend. He said, 'Hey, we got a fire. Get out,'" Halifax Fire Company Chief Wayne Courser said. "He did. He supposed the whole time Ray was out. He may have come out but we think he may have went in to get his dog."

A second alarm for the fully involved house fire at Reed Hill Road went out at 1:39 a.m. on Thursday morning. The home was owned by Halifax firefighter Joel Nebelski and his wife Dawn. Nebelski responded to the fire.

White was staying at the home, which Courser said he believed White was renting at the time. The dog, a part Lab, was the only animal living there at the time and did not survive the fire.

The home was a trailer with a large addition on it.

"I believe (White) was in the trailer part," said Courser.

The fire is still under investigation and was not considered suspicious. Courser said the building was well gutted and considered a total loss.

Whitingham Fire Department and Colrain Volunteer Fire Department, from Massachusetts, assisted at the scene. Marlboro Fire Department covered the Halifax station.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT

It is with deep regret that Fire Mutual Aid announce the passing of long time Board of Director Larry Daley from Peru Vt. Larry was also a long time member of the Peru Vt FD. He was very active as a Director and represented the Tri-Mountain area of our mutual aid system. Arrangements are pending and will be announced in the near future.