Vernon hosts national launch of VR training system to assist first responders

VIDEO: The town of Vernon is proudly billing itself as the first community in the country to adapt what is called the VRNA EMS System to assist first responders. The system, created by nearby East Hartford-based VRSim, uses virtual reality to better train firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and police officers for an array of medical incidents. Matthew Wallace, the president and CEO of VRSim, said, “The goal is to give them a repetition and training tool that will both attract and entice people to the industry.” Michael Purcaro, the Vernon town manager and emergency management director added that the town is hoping "our first responders will be able to sharpen their skills in a safe controlled virtual environment so that when they are needed in the real world, they will be better prepared to respond.”
WTIC-TV FOX 61 Hartford

Teenager serves her community working with both fire, police departments in New Milford

VIDEO: Meet Calley Thierfelder. This Connecticut teen spends her time traveling from school to the firehouse, then from the firehouse to the police department. She is making an impact in her community, while also encouraging other girls and women to make the leap into male-dominated fields. Whether she is on a fire truck or in a police car, she is there to help. “My dad wanted me to grow up in an area with like-minded people. People who do things for the community,” Calley said. She’s a member of the Northville Fire Department, working alongside her dad. She grew up going to calls in a car seat. Fourteen years later she joined the department. Now, a high school junior, she’s responded to nearly half of the calls taken by the fire department in the past year.
WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

VIDEO: 12 condo units in Brookfield destroyed by fire

PHOTOS: Twelve condominium units in Brookfield were completely destroyed by an overnight fire, the town’s fire chief confirmed to Channel 3. According to Brookfield’s Volunteer Fire Company, crews from numerous communities responded to help battle the fire at the Ledgewood Complex on Boxwood Drive. The call came in around 1:20 a.m. on Thursday. Two injuries were reported. The people suffered smoke inhalation, but were not seriously hurt, according to Brookfield Fire Chief Andrew Ellis. The fire reached a third alarm before crews were able to extinguish it. There’s no word on a cause.
WFSB-TV CBS 3 Hartford

Man jumps from second-story window to escape West Hartford house fire

A man jumped from the second-story window of a house Wednesday to save himself from a fire in West Hartford. Firefighters responded at 4:25 p.m. to a multi-family home on Elmhurst Street for a report of a kitchen fire. Crews found smoke coming from the second floor and located a man on the porch who had just jumped out of the window. Neighbors also said they heard a loud bang and found the man lying on the porch. “He couldn’t walk, we couldn’t move him, he was more stunned than anything but yeah, he had scratches and burns everywhere,” said Eddie Bonilla, a neighbor who called the fire department. The man was taken to the hospital for further treatment. Police said his injuries were likely non-life-threatening.
WTNH-TV ABC 8 New Haven