The annual Rivera Foundation Awards Ceremony Dinner will be held on Friday June 20th at 6:00PM at the Holiday Inn Grand Hotel on East Main Street. The union has purchased a table, if you would like to fill one of those seats please contact the President.

Mike Fitzgerald and his band "Farmertan" will be performing live at McFairlawns Tavern on  June 14th at 10:00PM. Lets go out and show him some support.

Local 1339 would like to congratulate our scholarship winners.

Jillian Kenny- Daughter of Captain Tom Kenny

Monica Valente- Daughter of Fire Fighter Dave Valente

Cody Ross Pitts- Son of Fire Fighter Ken Pitts

Jonathan Green- Son of Fire Fighter Carlton Green

Cody Shpunt- Son of Fire Fighter Bill Shpunt.

Congratulations to all the winners, we know you will all do well in college.

The fire department held its first ever safety stand-down this week. All non-essential activities were suspended and all fire fighters participated in a two hour safety class.

Fire fighters were encouraged to get back to basics with regard to safety standards, and everyone was reminded how important it is for us to take responsibility for operating safely.

It was also emphasized how important it is for the city to provide its fire fighters with the proper safety equipment and training, including radios that operate properly.

We thank the Waterbury Fire Department Safety Committee and the Bureau of Instruction and Training for conceiving and implementing our first safety stand-down. It was a huge success.

In a somber ceremony today, Waterbury Fire Fighters gathered as John Keane's name was added to the fallen fire fighters memorial. The seventeenth annual memorial ceremony had to be moved indoors because of the rain. As in past years, the ceremony honored all Waterbury Fire Fighters who died in the line of duty, as well as all former fire fighters who passed away since the last ceremony.

The ceremony was well attended by fire fighters, police officers, family members and elected officials. Guest speakers included Congressman Chris Murphy, Mayor Michael Jarjura, Fire Chief Michael Maglione, and State Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette.

Local 1339 President Fernando Ramirez vowed to make it his mission to make sure that there are no more names added to the memorial.

Fire fighter Joe Bogdanski presented the Family of John Keane with an American Flag that was flown over a US Marine Base in Iraq. That flag was flown on Memorial Day 2007 in honor of John Keane.

Local 1339 would like to thank the following for their participation today:

Congressman Chris Murphy, Mayor Michael Jarjura, Chief Maglione, Fire Department Chaplain Reverend Ronald  Ferraro, State Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette, and Reverand Thomas Mallory Jr. 

We also wish to thank Miss Chelsea Mehmet, from the Waterbury Arts Magnet School, for singing our national Anthem, Lieutenant Kevin McKeon from West Shore Fire District for performing Taps, Fire Fighter Joe Bogdanski, The Connecticut Firefighters pipes and drums, and the Waterbury Police Department.

Click here to view slide show.

More photos will be posted as we get them. If you have any photos you would like to share please email them to admin@waterburyfire.org

After a fourteen month deployment in the Middle East,  Joe Bogdanski was welcomed home by his family friends and colleagues.

On Saturday, May 3rd, at a ceremony at the Northside Firehouse,  fire fighters paid tribute to Joe, his wife Sandy, and their daughter Sophie, for their sacrifice on our behalf.

In January 2007, Joe was activated for his second deployment for operation Iraqi freedom. He was deployed with nearly one-hundred Sea-bees from the 30th Naval Construction Regiment. Stationed in Kuwait, managing logistics and supplies, Joe's duties frequently brought him into Iraq on re-supply missions. The regiment provided critical construction for the Second Marine Expeditionary Force in support of operation Iraqi Freedom.

On January 27, 2007 his family, friends, fellow fire fighters and elected officials gathered at Northside, and watched as Joe's wife Sandy was lifted in the bucket of Truck 2, and placed a Blue Star Flag on a flag pole. The flag is flown as a symbol that you have a family member serving in a war. That flag has flown proudly at Northside until yesterday.

Once again, family, friends, colleagues and elected officials were in attendance as Joe, Sandy and Sophie went up in the bucket and took the flag down symbolizing his safe return home.

After the ceremony, everyone went down to the Union Hall and celebrated with a welcome home party.

With full hearts, much appreciation is extended to Joe, Sandy, and Sophie for their dedication and sacrifice during these last fourteen months of deployment.

Welcome Home Joe

View Photo Gallery of Ceremony