Milford fire officer steps into new career

By NOELLE FRAMPTON Staff writer
Article Last Updated: 09/12/2008 11:41:18 PM EDT

MILFORD -- Assistant Fire Chief James Wilkinson remembers being picked up at his door on a stormy night by the National Guard, and wading through waist-deep water to fight a multi-structure fire in coastal Bayview.

That was during "The Blizzard of '78," he said. It is only one of many stories he has to tell after 34 years on the Milford Fire Department.

"I used to see more fire in a three-night tour that most of my guys see in a year," he said, recalling several times when he returned from a call to headquarters and thought, "I've finally seen it all," only to be proven wrong within 24 hours.

Now, Wilkinson, 55, is moving on to something new, but related.

Surrounded by friends and co-workers who wished him well during a Friday afternoon retirement party at fire headquarters, he said he's excited to start his new job as director of emergency services for the Mid-Fairfield County Chapter of the American Red Cross, based in Bridgeport.

"Instead of being a first responder, they call it being a second responder," he said. "It's been a great career, but it's time to move on. I have a lot of skills that I think I can bring to their table." Wilkinson said he'll be working with towns and cities from Stratford to Norwalk to prepare for emergencies and help those displaced by residential fires -- there are about 100 fire relocations a year in the area, he said. He'll also be a liaison between servicemen and women overseas and their families here.

Joining the fire department was a dream come true for Wilkinson, a lifelong city resident and Jonathan Law High School graduate who wanted to be a firefighter virtually since he learned what a firefighter was.

"At 5 years old, he used to follow firetrucks, literally, to every call," said Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia.

As assistant chief of operations since 2000, Wilkinson oversaw the daily comings and goings of Milford firemen.

He and his "command presence" during big storms and other disasters will be sorely missed, LaVecchia said.

"Thirty-four years of experience -- you know, it's hard to replace," he said. "When we lose one of our senior people, there's always a gap." Wilkinson received numerous awards during his time with the department, including a Medal of Merit for calming and disarming a person who threatened to commit suicide with a knife.

His wife, Cathy, said she and he have always made community service an important part of their lives and the lives of their daughters, Sarah, 26, and Amanda, 23. She sees the Red Cross affiliation is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness of needs and volunteerism among others.

"It's opening a new door -- a new chapter of volunteering," she said.

"Every day there's something happening. We don't have to go to New Orleans. We should help right here." Battalion Chief Dan Johnson, a 33-year veteran of the department whose father, Ray "Bif" Johnson was also a battalion chief there, will fill Wilkinson's place, prompting three additional promotions.