Fire Department Promotes Two to Officers

The Danbury Fire Department promoted John Halas and Robert Forbes, two men who joined the department together 12 years ago, to the rank of lieutenant.

Forbes said firefighting is a family business for him, because his grandfather was a Norwalk firefighter, his father was a Norwalk deputy chief and his brother is a firefighter in South Carolina.

"It's the greatest job in the world," Forbes said. "People call you. They need your help and you help them."

Forbes, 43, was born in Nowalk, he grew up in Bethel and he lives in Woodbury. He is married with two children.

Forbes said one of the main problems with being a firefighter is it's like having two families. Going to work isn't that hard. That cuts into family time. At the reception following the official swearing in of Forbes and Halas, Forbes said some of the people who attended the ceremony took time off from work to be there.

"If you need them, they're there for you," Forbes said.

Halas is a Danbury native, and he serves in the Fire Department Headquarters, which is named after his father Joe Halas and Martin (Butch) Melody, who were killed in a fire in Danbury on Feb. 23, 1982, when John was only seven years old.

"It's a great thing to be in the same department," Halas said, "but it isn't always easy. I wish he was around to share this with us."

Halas said he loves being a fire fighter, because it's exciting, it changes constantly and you're always helping somebody.

"People call with a problem, and we make the problem better," Halas said.

Halas has a girlfriend, and it sounds like he might be thinking about getting engaged. His girlfriend's grandfather is the former Danbury Fire Chief Tomanio, who was his father's fire chief.

"He used to be Chief Tomanio. Now he's Pops," Halas said.