Wed. Feb 3rd 2010
Annual Meeting and Elections
January has once again arrived, and so has the annual meeting of Hinesburg Firefighters Association. During our annual meeting, we hold the election of association and fire officers, with the exception of the Fire Chief, who is appointed by the Selectboard.
The Fire Department members hold a discussion during our annual meeting, followed by a vote of confidence for our Chief. Al Barber has been Fire Chief since 1999. Once again, the members voted unanimously in support of Chief Barber. We greatly appreciate the many hours of service Chief Barber puts in for the Department and on behalf of its members.
Congratulations to our 2010 fire and association officers:
Association Officers: President Jim Silva
Vice Pres. Eric Spivack Secretary John Lyman
Treasurer Brad Wainer
Fire Officers: Chief Al Barber
1st Asst Chief Rich Armstrong
2nd Asst Chief Jim Silvia
Captain Jon Wainer
1st Lieutenant Randy Thompson
2nd Lieutenant Jeremy Steele
Asst Medical Chief Frank Koss
Medical Lieutenant Eric Spivack
Meet Brad Wainer
Brad Wainer is the son of the late Dr. Louis & Rebecca Wainer. He grew up in Hinesburg and has lived here all his life. Since 1967, he has resided on Shelburne Falls Road where he raised five sons. Two of his sons, Jonathan and Tyler are members of the Department.
Brad joined the Department in 1967. When he joined, Bernard Giroux was Fire Chief. Brad recalls the night he was voted on the department. He was one of two members voted on that evening. Bernard stated that we had voted two members tonight one he said would be a great addition but the other (Brad) he was not so sure about. Brad proved Bernard wrong and over the years the two became close like a father and son.
With Bernard’s mentoring, Brad’s involvement and dedication to the department grew. In 1971, Brad was elected lieutenant and he has served in an officer’s position until this month, when he announced he wished to step down from the position of First Assistant Chief. Brad continues to serve as Treasurer of the Hinesburg Firefighters Association.
When he first joined, the apparatus consisted of Engine 1, a 1945 Ford pumper, and a 1956 Ford tanker which carried 1500 gallons of water. Brad recalled how it was one of the first tankers in the county. The first mutual aid call with the tanker was to a fire at the Old Lantern in Charlotte. The Charlotte Fire Dept was so impressed with how quickly it was able to deliver water, that they ordered a tanker for their department shortly thereafter.
One of the many things Brad has done within the department was help with fundraising. In 1971, he and Bernard set out on a mission to build the fire station we have today. A new engine had just been purchased, and it would not fit into the old station at the corner of Rte 116 and Mechanicsville Road. They visited everyone in town, and raised over $15,000. With volunteer labor, and materials provided at cost by local businesses, the station was built for less than $14,000. Since then, two additions have been added to the station, all paid for through donations from Hinesburg businesses and residents and built with volunteer labor.
In the late 1980’s Brad was honored to be a part of the station being dedicated to Bernard as thanks for over forty years of service. In 2002, Brad was honored by the Fire Department by having the newest addition being dedicated to him as thanks for his thirty-five years of service. Brad felt honored not only by the dedication, but also because it was a room in Bernard’s Fire House.
Over the years, Brad has also been a strong supporter, advisor and friend of St Michaels Rescue. Pete Soons, Chief of St. Michaels Rescue, recalls the gatherings Brad used to hold at his home for the members. He states that Brad is one of the reasons the crews enjoy coming to Hinesburg. St. Michaels has honored Brad with a lifetime honorary membership, one of a few they have bestowed.
Among many of Brad’s accomplishments was his being a leader in forming what is now the First Response Squad. When the squad was initially formed, it was a separate unit sponsored by the Hinesburg Fire Dept. The squad grew on its own. Members assisted Williston’s squad with calls, and vice versa. Eventually the squads combined into Iroquois First Response, covering the towns of Hinesburg, St George and Williston. Over the years, the towns grew, and so did the call volume within each town.
In late 2000, it was becoming apparent the number of calls had become overwhelming for one squad to handle. By July 2001, Hinesburg and Williston First Response squads were operating as part of their respective Fire Departments. Fire Department members now devote their time to fire, medical or both. St Michaels Rescue, of which Brad is a long term member, continues to serve Hinesburg as primary ambulance.
Since 1976 Brad has been in charge of the Fourth of July Fireworks for the town. For many of those years he would organize members of the Fire Department into a firing team, which would use flairs to shoot off the fireworks. To this day, he is extremely proud of his firing teams’ safety record. At the end of the night, everyone went home with all their body parts and without a burn or injury. Since 9/11, the restrictions, regulations and insurance prohibited the Fire Department from actually lighting the fire works. They are now lit off by a professional fire works company. The funds and planning for the fireworks are due to the outstanding job being done by Dave & Roni Estey and the Fireworks Committee.
In addition to being a member of the Hinesburg Fire Dept for over forty years, Brad has also served the community as Selectman, Chairman of the Board of Selectman, a member of the Zoning Board, and Cemetery Commissioner.
As Brad looks back over the years he wonders where they went, and is amazed how things have progressed from the days of the station siren sounding at all hours to call the volunteers, to today when we have pagers and radios. He often takes rides through town, seeing how much it has grown, and remembering the calls he has been on at many of the addresses he drives by.
The Hinesburg Fire Department and Firefighters Association would like to thank Brad for his many years of service and dedication to the department and town. It has been thanks to volunteers like Brad that the Fire Department is what it is today, including the station, apparatus, and equipment. We are sorry to see him step down from his position as Assistant Chief, but know he will still be along side us at the next call, and challenging us at the next fundraiser.
| 
Mutual aid to
Shelburne
