According to Fire Chief Richard Felner, both volunteer departments are unable to respond to emergency calls until they can provide paperwork documenting that the individual members are fit and trained to serve.

At press time yesterday, Felner said that it was unclear how many members of the Southport and Stratfield volunteer departments had submitted complete documentation citing their individual members' qualifications to the town. Felner explained that the town's Human Resources Department and the career department's training officer are "in the process" of reviewing records for both volunteer departments.

According to Town Attorney Richard Saxl, the new policy officially puts in writing that there can be no dispatch of any volunteer vehicle until the town receives all of the required documentation, which includes a checklist of training requirements and certifications for each volunteer firefighter.

Although the volunteer departments are not being dispatched to emergency calls, Felner emphasized that the Fairfield Fire Department remains in service at both the Southport and Stratfield stations and will continue to provide full protection to residents.

The Southport volunteer department, also known as Squad 14, has aided the career department in responding to emergency situations since 1895, while the Stratfield volunteer department has been in service since 1920. Both the career firefighters and the volunteers occupy the fire stations located at 69 Main St. in Southport and 400 Jackman Ave. in Fairfield.

Southport Volunteer Fire Chief Peter Kopko was unavailable for comment before press time yesterday. Representatives from the Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department were not present at Thursday's meeting and were unavailable for comment before press time yesterday.

However, according to a statement released yesterday by Roberto Tschudin Lucheme, an attorney representing the Southport volunteers, the department "objects to the Town's interference with the dispatch" of the department.

"The interference with our dispatch protocols is nothing more than a power grab," the statement reads. "We do not object to any of the 'standards' outlined by the career fire department and ratified by the Town. We do object to changing the rules in the middle of the game."

According to the statement provided by Tschudin Lucheme, "state law permits the town to pay for and provide for all sorts of training and medical exams." However, Southport alleges that "the Town failed to offer training this year as they have always provided in the past."

"This same training was promised to us, and the Town did not deliver on their promise until well after arbitrary deadlines were set," the statement reads. "If they are simply trying to shift the financial burden to us, then it would be nice if they would just come out and say so. Then we won't wait for promised training or medical exams, and we'll go get it ourselves."

According to Deputy Fire Chief Arthur Reid, in the past year the career department has offered several in-house training opportunities to the volunteer departments. However, Reid said he had indicated to David Becker, the president of the Southport volunteer department, that the other requested items were not in the budget.

Felner also pointed out that a July 31 fundraising letter from the Southport volunteer department states that "the SVFD receives no direct financial assistance from the Town of Fairfield of the Fairfield Fire Department." The letter goes on to state that the SVFD "has sustained the day to day expenses of running the fire department while effectively equipping and training new volunteer firefighters."

On Monday, Felner said the order for the volunteer departments to be out of service until proper documentation is received was not his direction, he is simply "following instructions" and looking to protect the safety of the town and its citizens.

"This is not our doing," Felner said of the Fairfield Fire Department. "We're instructed by [the Fire Commission and the town attorney], and it's our responsibility to make sure that they comply with the law."

According to the resolution adopted last week by the Fire Commission, effective immediately, all active fire volunteers must have all of the required current and valid certifications, with up-to-date copies on file with the town. Although the town previously required these certifications, the policy effectively puts the requirements in writing. These certifications include a Firefighter 1 certificate, medical clearance, an SCBA Fit Test, spirometry test, hazardous material operations certification, OSHA quarterly training and blood borne pathogens training, to name a few.

According to Felner, the documentation is the "minimum standards" required by the town of all firefighters, both in the career and volunteer departments. "It's not a unique requirement; it's the same as what's required of everyone else," Felner said. "At this time, neither volunteer department is being dispatched until all records are brought up to par per the Fire Commission."

Complete and up-to-date training and certification are important not only for the protection of the volunteers, but also for the protection of the residents they are serving in an emergency situation, Felner said. Additionally, the documentation is for the protection of the town, which is liable for any worker's compensation claim submitted by a volunteer who is injured.

In addition to the list of training requirements, the policy mandates that any truck dispatched by the town must be manned with only active volunteer members, all of whom must have on file with the town all required training documents. In addition, at least one volunteer must be certified as an EMT and at least one qualified driver with the appropriate license shall drive any such truck.

According to the Stratfield volunteer department's Web site, www.rescue15.com, all active members "participate in regular drills and training" and have passed a "probationary period of six months or until all probationary qualifications are met, whichever is longer."

"During the Probationary period, the Probationary Member shall attend a prescribed course of instruction to familiarize themself with the apparatus and equipment and their uses," the Web site continues. "In addition, the Probationary Member shall fulfill the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 1001 certification for Firefighter I; certification of Connecticut Emergency Medical Technician; and a recognized vehicle extrication course."

In an interview last month, Kopko said he completely understands and agrees with the importance of proper training and certification, as they are consistent with the standards of the Southport volunteer department. "My standards are, if you're not qualified to ride, you don't get on that truck," he said. "No one would ever go on the truck if they are not properly certified."

The request for paperwork came to a head following a Sept. 1 letter from Saxl to the Southport volunteer department, which stated the department had until Sept. 30 to submit all required paperwork to the town.

According to Fire Commission Chairman Ralph Money, Saxl's Sept. 1 letter followed an ongoing series of requests from both Saxl and the Fire Commission. However, Southport repeatedly failed to turn in complete documentation, which was in direct violation of the commission's policy that "no individual or unit, either career or volunteer, will be dispatched to an emergency scene unless documentation is current," Money said.

But on Sept. 27, Kopko had indicated that his department intended to fully comply with the request by submitting full training documentation for each of its members.

Kopko at that time explained that there seemed to be a "gray area" as to what the town would continue to provide in terms of funding the updating of the volunteer department's training and certification needs. In the past, according to Kopko, the career department had provided the funding for the volunteer department to keep up to date on obtaining the various licenses and certifications required. "This year, for some reason, we've apparently been shut off," Kopko said. "They're no longer providing us with these things."

Prior to the commission's approval of the policy during Thursday's meeting, Tschudin Lucheme urged the commission to table the decision for 30 days in order to allow Southport adequate time to obtain and submit all required paperwork. "These are not unreasonable requests, but there has to be a reasonable amount of time, that's all we're saying," he told the commission.

At that point, First Selectman Ken Flatto explained that the intent of the proposed policy was not to put either of the volunteer departments out of service. "The intent here is not to deprive anyone," Flatto said. "The intent is to protect the town. It is imperative that everyone understands that's the way the town of Fairfield works it's the law."

Saxl added that he was hopeful that all parties could understand the situation from "a municipal perspective."

"The policy needs to be in place immediately to protect the public that everyone is trying to serve," he said. "The volunteer departments are vital organizations and we welcome their support. I know there have been some times of difficulty but we have the opportunity to work together."

Saxl then said that should the commission adopt the resolution that night, he expected to see "a pretty quick compliance" with the requirements required of the volunteer departments.

Following the commission's unanimous adoption of the resolution, Money explained to those present that the policy may periodically be reviewed and revised by the commission, and would then be shared with all involved parties. He added that there would be "no exceptions, no compromises, period" to the policies as approved by the commission.

Yesterday Tschudin Lucheme commented that "the public should know that we [Southport] are ready, willing and able to respond, and to the extent we can get our dispatch restored we will be there to answer their call."