Woodbury Fire Re-Elects Chief Janet Morgan

WOODBURY 26June2025 – Woodbury Fire Chief Janet Morgan was sworn in to her tenth two-year term leading the volunteer fire department on Thursday June 26th 2025 at the annual appreciation dinner. In brief remarks, she pledged to continue her constant effort “to make the department proud and the town safe.” Dave Lampart was re-elected deputy chief to his fourth two-year term. When not fighting fires or scrambling to a rescue situation, Morgan is the town’s Fire Marshall. Lampart is an executive with a multi-station FM radio group.

Chief Morgan also received this year’s award for Most Valuable Member in the voting earlier in the month. She has been an active firefighter for 45 years and chief of the Woodbury department’s two companies for the last 18 years.

Corey Shaker, president of the auto group that bears the family name, was sworn as Fire Captain in the Hotchkissville Company. Rob Start, a builder, is first lieutenant and Jason Hatstat, a water inspector for Aquarion is second lieutenant. The Orenaug Company re-elected Fire Capt. Steve Cunningham, an IT security consultant. Ryan Murphy, a career firefighter with the Meriden department, is the new first lieutenant at Orenaug, joined by William Hickey, a professional West Haven firefighter, as second lieutenant. Jim Arndt, chair of the town’s Board of Fire Commissioners, administered the inauguration oath that followed their election earlier in June.

In his remarks, Shaker noted that membership in volunteer fire departments nationwide had declined by 63 percent in recent years while Woodbury’s fire department volunteer membership had increased by 60 percent to nearly 50. He attributed the increase to high morale and community presence.

The appreciation dinner at the 1754 House, Woodbury, opened with Chaplain Brandon Dumas, pastor of Faith Church in Wolcott, blessing the new $415,000 tanktruck and all firefighters who respond with it. The International truck replaces a 1995 Ford tanker and is based at Hotchkissville. Powered by a 640 horsepower Cummings diesel, its pumps can flood a fire with its 2500 gallon waterload in less than two minutes. Don Harris, the department’s chief engineer, noted that under normal conditions, the truck is limited to a maximum 47.5 miles an hour, just above the limits on state roads around town. “But if we need it, say, to travel on the Interstate, we can engage a fifth gear for more speed,” Harris said.

A plaque on the side of the truck dedicates the truck to Harris in tribute to his years serving the department.

Among other awards, longtime Firefighter Earl Gillette, a retired commercial pilot, won the citation for most responses in the year. Gillette rolled to call-outs 325 times out of the 461 alarms in the past 12 months. Second place was taken by Chief Morgan with 310. In all, nearly 20 firefighters responded more than 100 times. Five more members were added to the rolls for completing Connecticut’s strict FireFighter 1 initial training: Steve Anctil, Amy Clark, Jonathan Hutter, Jonathan Laukaitis, and Allyson Modica. The ‘caboose award’ that goes to the newest member of the department ended up spread among another seven new volunteers.

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