Step through the door on the second floor of the Cos Cob Fire House and it feels as though you are stepping back in time. More accurately, stepping through time. It is a living museum, 100 years old, to those who serve our community. It has a comforting feel that encourages you to linger over photographs and memorabilia that showcase familiar names in our history. One of the organizations that call this place home is the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, which has rich history all of its own.
Fire police patrols were a concept born of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters in the 1800’s. Insurance companies wanted to protect their investment and hired people to walk a beat and look for fires. When fires were discovered, they would sound a klaxon that would make a loud screeching sound to alert people. They would then go into the house to try and save as many valuables as possible. Often, a family’s most valuable possession was their bed. Fire police would carry bed keys so they could quickly dismantle head and footboards to save them from the flames. Their mission was to salvage so that insurance companies could avoid as many claims as possible.
Move ahead one century. The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol was established in November 1927, after members of the Volunteer Fire Company felt there was a need for a separate fire salvage and scene control company. In May 1928, the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol was officially organized and held its first meeting with the elections of James Tomney as captain. Today its three main missions are to save and salvage as many belongings from a fire scene as possible, to assist with traffic control during emergencies, and to protect a scene so that people would not enter an active emergency area.
The Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol has 40 members, about 20 of whom are active, and they respond to between 80 and 180 calls per month. If there is water being sprayed on a fire on an upper floor, the fire police might be on a lower floor, setting up chutes to direct the draining water away from valuables and carpets to save as many possessions as possible. If there is an accident on I-95 in Greenwich, chances are their big white truck is sitting at an angle across the lane to protect the other first responders. And they need our help.
On Saturday, April 23 they are holding their annual benefit. This year, they will be giving the Chief’s Award to The Hon. Paul B. Hicks III. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Greenwich Country Day School and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.ccfpp.org. All proceeds will be used to upgrade existing communications equipment and purchase special equipment. We encourage the community to support this worthy organization.
Paul Hicks is worthy of a few accolades of his own. A lifelong Greenwich resident, Mr. Hicks attended Greenwich High School, where he distinguished himself on the lacrosse team, and graduated from the University of Virginia. Politics caught his eye early on, and he went to Washington, D.C., to work for the late U.S. Rep. Stewart McKinney, a Republican, eventually becoming his chief of staff. It was in Washington that he met his future wife, Caye Cavender, who was a legislative aide to Rep. Ed Jones, a Democrat. He served as a selectman in Greenwich from 1987 until 1991. Since then he has had a successful career in the private sector as CEO of Ogilvy Public Relations, with the National Football League, and now with Glover Park Group.
People like Paul and Caye are what make Greenwich a wonderful community. They are quietly behind the scenes of many endeavors, and never seek the limelight. Now is the time to honor them for all they have done for the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol. We hope to see you on the 23rd.
