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Captain Lasseur is a professional firefighter in Miami, and a native son of Haiti, where he has been active in the development of local firefighting companies throughout the island nation of Haiti.  The IFA organization he established, seeks donations of retired fire apparatus and necessary equipment for partners in Haiti and throughout the world.

The Florham Park Borough Mayor and Council members, who are responsible for the ownership of the apparatus, accepted the volunteers proposal to donate Engine 22 to the IFA, and plans were completed to transport the vehicle to the Port of Miami, where it was loaded on a ship bound for Haiti.

As the fire truck arrived in Haiti, Captain Lasseur’s partners, in Croix-des-Bouquets province, requested assistance to train their newly organized fire company in the technical aspects of the trucks operation.  Engine 22 is the first, and only, piece of firefighting apparatus in this Haitian province, where heretofore they fought fires only with water buckets, axes, brooms and blankets.  Members of the FPVFD Association agreed to donate a portion of their annual fund drive proceeds to support the expenses of a mission for two officers, Assistant Chief Chuck Keel and Fire Inspector Alban Kellogg, to visit their new friends and owners of Engine 22 in Haiti in late August.

Many Haitian Government Officials and community leaders of Croix-des-Bouquet province expressed their overwhelming appreciation for the generosity of the Community of Florham Park, and the members of the FPVFD Association for their kind donation of this essential firefighting equipment in their earthquake ravaged country.

The  FPVFD invites any other fire departments who may have obsolete equipment to join with them in supporting the IFA with additional donations of apparatus and equipment.  If you are able to participate in this effort, please contact Assistant Chief Chuck Keel at 973-377-3241 or contact the IFA at www.ifarelief.org.

This Month in Fire History

November 1, 1970, Grenoble, France

Dance hall fire kills 145

November 6, 1896, Boston, MA

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is founded

November 9, 1872, Boston, MA

Great Boston Fire causes $73.5 million in damages

November 15, 1973, Los Angeles, CA

Stratford Apartments home hotel fire kills 25

November 21, 1980, Las Vegas, NV

MGM Grand Hotel fire kills 85

November 28, 1942

Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire kills 492

Courtesy of NFPA

For details on fires that occurred100 years ago this month, turn to Paul Hashagen’s “Rekindles” on page XX.