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Brookfield – Derek Broadmeyer was enthusiastic in primary school when he saw the Fire Trucks in the Elm Street in New Canaan, where his mother worked as a manager.
“People love firefighters,” he says. “They love Fire Trucks.”
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It was the inspiration for a book report.
He is now the head of the Brookfield Fire Company headquarters. It is a 20,000 square meter “state -of -the -art” facility, which was opened in 1991 in which 92 Pocono Road. There are currently 75 members who respond to calls around the clock.
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According to its website, the Brookfield Fire Department Candlewood Co., which is located on 18th Bayview Drive, has two engines, two lifeboats, a pickup truck and a command vehicle.
The Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said that some residents may not appreciate what the two fire brigade companies are doing for them.
“I think like electricity or police, they just take it for granted,” he said. “What we have here is a committed group of volunteers who invest their own time and help our residents. They do incredible work.”
Broadmeyer explained: “We have to check home at 2 a.m. at 2 a.m.. We try to solve all of his problems. This is what you are looking for. It is something going on. You need help and you are looking for someone who does a fire or have a fire alarm with a low battery.”
He said that the addition of apartments of apartments, assisted care facilities, more traffic outside the city to Costco and the BJ wholesale club and two urging care offices have significantly increased our service queries.
Broadmeyer commented that between 2021 and 2024 the number of annual arson calls rose from 928 to 1,041.
“Before the pandemic, the average was in the 700 range,” he said in an interview with patch.com
According to Broadmeyer, 62 members of the department answered calls in 2024, 26 of whom recorded more than 100.
A member who responds to at least five percent of the calls can receive a scholarship from the city government.
“However, the scholarship is not the reason why people of the fire brigade enter. They compete in the fire brigade because they want to help their community,” said Broadmeyer, a guiding engineer at Precision Mobileelectronics in Danbury, who specializes in the construction of emergency vehicles.
To join the department: You have to be based in Brookfield, at least 18 years old or live in an adjacent city within a 12-minute drive of the firehouse.
Broadmeyer said that there is usually a “ebb and river” of members.
“In order for people to move into the city, they have to be financially stable,” he said. “This is all over the northeast. There are more wealthy cities that are exposed to the same topic.”
“It is difficult with the way the economy is,” he called. “I bought my house in 2013. When I bought my house, it was about half of what it is now.
According to Dunn, most residents of the extensive training are not aware of it, which is necessary to become a fireman.
The headquarters sponsored two to three EMT classes (Emergency Medical Technician) per year and a fire class for beginners every January.
Firefighter I need 120 hours of lessons, 40 hours for training dangerous materials and then a practical test and a written test. The EMT training requires 220 hours of lessons.
Broadmeyer commented that they sponsored many state classes in Firehouse – including air operators, pump operators, Fire I and II, fire teacher I, II, fire brigade manager I, II, III.
“We ask many members,” he said. “You have to reach at least four meetings every year. You have to carry out 26 drills. 26 Mondays a year.”
According to Broadmeyer, all members can give the company officer feedback.
“We have an environment in which people can speak and do what they want to do,” he said. “Membership may take over the roles and projects of the committee.”
Broadmeyer commented that the headquarters followed the standards of professional security and health administration (OSHA) for the election of its managers.
You “have to be better educated than your standard firefighter,” he said.
There are also 24 employees – EMTS and certified paramedics – who work on the medical emergency services for the fire brigade, which is occupied with the three ambulances in the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Station 2, Center Fire House in Obtuse Hill Road/Route.
Broadmeyer said that the rescue calls of the emergency services were recently subjected to “a significant increase”. 1,999 were recorded in 2021. This number rose to 2,554 in 2024.
The headquarters carry out an annual fund drive, but a large part of its money comes from the municipal expenses.
We get “a great budget from the city of Brookfield,” noted Broadmeyer. “They were always wonderful for us. The Board of Finance, the Board of Selectmen has always been available to meet us.”
The headquarters pay itself for a third of each fire engine that finances the municipal budget the other two thirds. The urban government pays all costs associated with the ambulance and a large proportion of the annual operating costs of the fire service.
For example, Broadmeyer said that it costs “5,000 US dollars to equip a fireman.
Dunn noticed: “We have discussed very openly and openly about what their needs are. The fire service companies present specific things they need. They explain why they need them. The board and the board from Selectmen are very open to this.”
Broadmeyer, whose family moved from New Canaan to New Milford during his school, said that he had long admired Brookfield's small town magic.
His wife Amy is a nurse. You have a nine -year -old daughter, Lola, who visits Candlewood Lake Elementary School.
Broadmeyer was a member of New Milfords Companies Gaylordsville and Water Witch hose before moving to Brookfield and participating to the headquarters. He became an interim chief last year and was recently elected to a complete term in this position.
Some firefighters in the headquarters have been on the squad for 40 years. The families of Ellis, Gravius and Martone include generations.
Since the pandemic, Broadmeyer said that they had recruits from Brooklyn and the Bronx when the residents of City made their home in a suburb of Brookfield.
“Some people moved into the city because they see what this fire brigade is about,” he noted. “This is a special place.”
Note: If you are interested in being a volunteer firefighter in the headquarters, you can access your website to the Firehouse Pocono Road after 6:30 a.m. after 6:30 a.m. The training is offered.
Resources:
Interview Derek Broadmeyer, Patch.com, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Telephone interview with Derek Broadmeyer, Patch.com, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Email interview with Derek Broadmeyer, Patch.com, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Telephone interview with Steve Dunn, Patch.com, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
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