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Community Corner

Avon Volunteer Fire Department Swears in Tom Kline as Assistant Chief; Nolan, Mansfield, Ryan, and Plourde Also Receive Promotions

At its November Meeting, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department officially congratulated Tom Kline on his promotion to Assistant Chief as well as welcomed one new Captain and three new Lieutenants.  AVFD President and Fire Police Lieutenant Ken Sedlak administered the swearing in of the officers.

Assistant Chief Tom Kline started in the fire service in 1993 as a Cadet with Tunxis Hose in Unionville.  During college from 1994-1998, he volunteered and participated in the live-in “Bunker” program for the Ithaca (New York) Fire Department.  Kline has been a member of the AVFD since 2004 – he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008 and to Captain in 2011.  He is certified as Fire Officer 1 and Incident Safety Officer and has completed course work in Advanced Incident Management and Unified Command.  Kline has received AVFD awards for Outstanding Service (2005 and 2011), the Chief’s Challenge Coin (2011), and Excellence in Leadership (2009).

The AVFD has promoted Mike Nolan from Lieutenant to Captain.  Three firefighters – Ramona Mansfield, John Ryan, and Collin Plourde – were promoted to Lieutenant.  Captain Mike Nolan joined the AVFD in 2011 and was promoted to Lieutenant six months later.  Lieutenant Ramona Mansfield joined the AVFD in 2009.  She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012 and elected secretary of the Board in 2013.  Lieutenant John Ryan joined the AVFD in 2006.  He has also served on the Board of Directors.  Lieutenant Collin Plourde joined the AVFD in 2010.

Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department prides itself on the selflessness and dedication of its members – firefighters, fire police, administrative members, Explorers, active veterans, senior veterans, and associate members, all of whom play a vital role in the safety of Avon.  The Department operates six companies and 15 pieces of apparatus, including a brush truck, ladder truck, tanker, rescue vehicle, boat, and pumpers.  Four stations are located throughout Town – Company 1 on Darling Drive, Company 2 on Secret Lake Road, Company 3 on West Avon Road, and Company 4 on Huckleberry Hill Road.  Anyone interested in learning more about the AVFD should call the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) at 677-2644, visit www.avonvfd.org, or stop by the Company 1 firehouse located at 25 Darling Drive any Monday evening after 7:00.

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