Hometown Heroes Firefighters 2018 | Page 13

Berlin Berlin is a town of over 2,800 residents and 1,100 households. It also has five malls, two nursing homes, one hospital, one railroad station, one air- port, over 25 miles of state highways and over 50 miles of town roads. department, a small stipend is given out once a year based on time served to the department the previous year. BERLIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT (BVFD) BVFD responds to over 500 calls a year. These calls consist of motor vehicle accidents, motor vehicle fires, alarm activations, hazardous material (HazMat) incidents, medical assistance, structure fires, grass fires and weather-related calls such as floods and wind damage. TOWNS SERVED BVFD serves the town of Berlin as well as Barre City, Barre Town, Calais, Middlesex, Montpelier, East Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Roxbury, Waterbury and Williamstown. Berlin has responded to towns as far away as Hardwick, Randolph, Stowe, Walden, Waitsfield and Worcester. INCEPTION DATE OF FIREHOUSE The Berlin Volunteer Fire Department FAVORITE CHARITY Our favorite charities are the children in Berlin. The Department opens its doors to several elementary school field trips a year and also visits preschools where firefighters teach age-appropriate fire safety. was established and incorporated in 1953. BVFD is a volunteer department. Volunteers come from Berlin as well as other neighboring communities. The department consists of approximately 20 first responders, six non-responders and two community members. Even though Berlin is a volunteer Chief Jeremie Dufresne Deputy Chief Miles Silk Jr. Captain Keith Van Iderstine Captain John Staab Lt. Chris Forsell Senior Firefighter Matt Squiers Department Chaplin Sam Newton President John Staab Vice President Jason Greene Secretary Janet Richardson Treasurer Jeanne Pratt Assistant Treasurer Keith Van Iderstine Board of Directors/Corporate Member Rick Pratt Board of Directors/Firefighter John H. Silk ANNUAL EVENTS PUT ON BY THE HOUSE Spring Chess Tournament held at the Berlin Elementary School, the Berlin Town Meeting Day lunch, and the Greater Barre Craft Guild’s annual Craft Show that takes place at the Barre Auditorium the weekend following Thanksgiving. Board of Directors/Community Member Jerry Diamantides Board of Directors/Berlin Select Board Member Jeremy Hansen FIREFIGHTER ROSTER Branden Amatrudo Don Edson Shane D. LaFlower Vern Poland Christopher Ward James Webster Robert Gowans Danelle LaFlower Ethan Shaw Ryan A. Smith Lille Anne Surprise Josh Newton Ryan Barr Gaige Williams Gregory Silk, Cadet Carole Lacasse, Ladies Auxiliary Cathy S. Silk, Ladies Auxiliary Corporate Members: Nick Garbacik Michael R. Sweeney Katie R. Sweeney Andy Lacasse Rene McCormick James Ward Miles M. Silk Jr. Heather Silk THE BARRE MONTPELIER TIMES ARGUS HOMETOWN HEROES FIREFIGHTERS 2018 • 13