Avon Volunteer FD Promotes Officers, Honors Longtime Members

AVON, CT — The Avon Volunteer Fire Department recently recognized several members for promotions, professional achievements and years of service while welcoming new volunteers to the organization.

Three members were promoted to leadership positions within the department. Michael Galliher was promoted from lieutenant to captain, Garrett Long advanced from firefighter to lieutenant, and Jamison Appell, a member of the department's Fire Police unit, was promoted to lieutenant.

The department also recognized three members who recently earned their Firefighter I certifications: Ariel Mazara, Doug Tran and Daniel Lake.

Four longtime members of the Fire Police unit were honored for more than two decades of service to the department: Dennis Bianchi, Jay McCaffrey, Jack McGuire and Robert Theriault.

The department also welcomed several new members during recent Avon Volunteer Fire Department Corporation meetings.

Lara Milhero joined as a firefighter, Matthew Dileo became a support firefighter, and Sandy Austin Goldstein joined as a headquarters member after taking their membership oaths. In addition, Zoey Hatinen became a regular support firefighter after previously serving as an Explorer.

Founded in 1943, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, and life safety services to nearly 20,000 residents across Avon's 23-square-mile community. The all-volunteer department also provides mutual aid assistance to neighboring communities when requested.

The department operates six companies with 15 emergency vehicles, including pumpers, a ladder truck, a tanker, a rescue vehicle, a brush truck, and a boat.

Fire stations are located on Darling Drive, Secret Lake Road, West Avon Road, and Huckleberry Hill Road.

Residents interested in volunteering with the Avon Volunteer Fire Department can learn more by calling 860-677-2644, visiting www.AvonVFD.org, following @AvonVFD on Facebook and Instagram, or stopping by Company 1 at 25 Darling Drive on Monday evenings after 7 p.m.

For more information on last month's ceremony, click on this link.