Fairfield Regional Fire School Needs Old Cars for Training

The Fairfield Regional Fire School is in need of old cars for this weekend's Vehicle Extrication and Rescue Tools course, according to a release from the Assistant Fire Chief Chris Tracy.

The course -- taught by lead instructor John Plofkin -- allows firefighters to learn and refine their life-saving skills, according to Tracy, who serves as the school's training director.

“We’ve always relied on the generosity of the community for training tools like cars and homes slated for demolition, but with the economic downturn people are keeping older cars running, so even our fallback sources have fewer resources for us to use," Tracy said. 

Old cars are needed for this weekend's training and for the pre-prom mock crashes at Fairfield Warde and Ludlowe high schools next month.

The school has received one donation from Fox Street resident Kelly Benenati, who -- along with her father, Joe -- offered her late mother's Subaru station wagon that had been damaged beyond repair during Hurricane Sandy, Tracy said. The vehicle will be used as part of the "Back to Basics -- Vehicle Extrication & Rescue Tools" course.

“We’re grateful to the Benenatis and hope that their donations will inspire other residents to offer homes and cars that are beyond repair for our firefighters and officers to use to improve their life saving skills as our region’s first responders,” Tracy said.

Anyone with a vehicle to donate should call the Fairfield Regional Fire School at 203-254-4708 or email FRFS@town.fairfield.ct.us. If the vehicle is not running, it can be picked up at its current location with a current title.