Andover Volunteer Fire Department
Andover, Connecticut
A History of the Andover Volunteer Fire Department. 1938 - 2013
by Scott Yeomans
Page 14
After 22 years of service as Chief, Curt Dowling chose not to run for reelection in 2004. Curt was the longest serving chief in the history of the department. Under his leadership the department moved into a new fire house and saw the arrival of 5 trucks, 2 ambulances, a boat and saw the department respond to over 6,000 calls. The department selected long time Deputy Chief Shawn Covell to fill the Chief’s position. Ron Mike Jr. was elevated to the position of Deputy Chief.
A new vehicle to replace the 1981 Ranger rescue truck (R115) was ordered in April, 2004. This new truck, a Ford F550 chassis with a body by Extraction Equipment Company and costing $112,500, was purchased for the department and donated to the town by "Benefactor." It was put in service in Nov., 2004.
Shawn Covell
Chief 2004 to 2010
In service from 11/2004 to present
This truck carries a Hurst combination tool, Dive Team equipment, haz-mat gear. It has a diesel generator and a telescoping light tower.
A new LifeLine ambulance built on a Ford E450 chassis was put in service in May, 2005. This vehicle replaced the 10 year old Horton, which as the most active piece of apparatus in the line-up, was starting to have issues. Once again, the department benefactor purchased this for the town at a cost of $132,000. The old one was put up for sale with the highest bid being $4,000.
In service from 5/2005 to 3/2013
In December, 2005, a new fire truck was put in service as a replacement for the 1984 E-One/Ford. The new truck was an E-One Custom, carrying 1,000 gallons of water, 40 gallons of foam and equipped with a pump rated at 1,500 gallons per minute. It carries 1,000' of 4" large diameter supply line, three 2.5" and two 1.75" pre-connects. This vehicle cost the town $350,000. The 1984 E-One was sold for $20,000 to Fire Master Fire Equipment Inc.
In service from 12/2005 to present
In September, 2008 it was determined that it would cost less to get a new boat then it would to repair the old one. After some shopping around, the Town purchased a boat for $2,800 on 12/31/2008. The new boat was received and put in service in May of 2009. It is a 2004 Achilles 14 footer.
In service from 5/2009 to present
Colin Bancroft pilots the boat during a dive drill at Coventry Lake
After 6 years as Chief and Deputy Chief respectively, Shawn Covell and Ron Mike Jr. switched positions in January, 2010. Thus Ron became the 8th person to hold the Chief’s position. Ron continues in that position at this writing.
A new Ambulance was ordered in late 2012. The entire cost of this Ambulance, $198,000 was paid for by the Andover Volunteer Fire Department Association from the money collected via the Ambulance Billing program that began 10 years previous. This new Lifeline ambulance, is built on a GMC G4500 Chassis was turned over to the town and placed in service in March, 2013.
Ron Mike Jr.
Chief 2010 - present
Photo - Patrick Dooley
In service from 3/2013 to present
House Burn, Route 6 - 6/3/2013 - click any thumbnail to see the full image - photos curtesy of Patrick Dooley
Asst. Chief Mindy Hegener, Dep. Chief Shawn Covell, Fire Marshal John Roache, John Colli, Tom Mike, Lieut. Steve Willard, Ben Mike, Lieut. Peter Knochenhauer, Colin Bancroft, Greg Vincek
