Congratulations Alice Bonatt

Fire Chief William Flynn sings praises on his long time dispatcher Alice Bonatt who is retiring after 28 years of service to the town of Harwich. Alice started out as a police dispatcher then moved to the fire department as one of the first Fire Alarm Operations for the fire department. Over the last couple of years, Alicehas worked as a combined fire and police telecommunicator in the new dispatch center in the Public Safety Building on Sisson Road. Alice was also the proprietor of Bonatt's Restaurant on Route 28 in Harwichport with her husband Jim........ famous for their "MELTAWAYS'.

Thank you Alice for your many years of hard work and service to our community.

LADDER 66 - E-ONE 110ft

Harwich Ladder 66 returned this month from a year-long refurbishment. Greenwood Apparatus completed the overhaul of L-66 which brought the truck up to Federal Requirements. New paint, radiator, LED lights, integrated Scott Pac seating, thermal imager and a rebuilt Detroit Diesel motor are a few of the improvements on L-66. Ladder 66 has a 110 foot ladder that is utilized more for reach than height.

This truck enables firefighters to quickly and effectively provide ventilation to building during a fire to prevent back draft conditions and to minimize damage to the building. Ladder 66 carries a full compliment of tools and equipment along with ground ladders.

Members of the Harwich Fire Department have been working with local businesses to train with Ladder 66 after its return. Firefighters are pictured here at The Snow Inn complex which has numerous buildings each with unique features that make it ideal for training.

If you SMOKE, smoke outside - and put it out !

Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable. You can make a difference!

The Facts:

Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths in the United States. People close to where a smoking material fire starts are harder to save because the fire spreads fast. Most fires caused by smoking material start on beds, furniture, or in the trash.

In 2006, there were an estimated 142,900 smoking-material fires in the United States. These fires caused 780 civilian fire deaths and 1,600 civilian injuries.

Smokers are not the only ones who suffer from smoking home fires: One in four people killed in home fires is not a smoker whose cigarette caused the fire. Thirty-four percent are children of the smokers. Twenty-five percent are neighbors or friends of the smokers. Older adults are at the highest risk of death or injury from smoking-material fires even though they are less likely to smoke.

Most home fires caused by smoking materials start inside the home. It's better to smoke outside. If you smoke outside, put your cigarettes out in a can filled with sand. Use ashtrays with a wide, stable base that are hard to tip over. If it wobbles, it won't work. The cigarette really needs to be completely stubbed out in an ashtray. Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash can.