The West Hartford Fire Department took over the Advanced Life Support (ALS) role as of Aug. 1, 2016, and recently celebrated the 10-year milestone.

By Ronni Newton

It took many years of discussion before the West Hartford Fire Department took over the ALS role in 2016 – after gaining unanimous approval by the Town Council for the move to the increased responsibility – and the 10-year anniversary of the success of paramedic program was celebrated this month.

Stakeholders involved when the program was launched on Aug. 1, 2016 were honored in a Sept. 9, 2026 ceremony, and many – including former West Hartford Fire Chief Gary Allyn – were present at the celebration and recognized for the steadfast work, long-term vision, and political courage to pave the way for implementation of the paramedic program, said Deputy Chief Jarrad Smith, who served as emcee of the event.

Smith, who was later surprised with the “Unsung Hero” award by Fire Chief Greg Priest during the event, was a lieutenant at the time and personally involved in the implementation as well.

Smith expressed his thanks for the investment in the department. “Major changes in public safety are rarely easy. They require elected leaders who are willing to look beyond the immediate challenges and ask what the organization can be five, 10, or 20 years in the future. You were willing to do that.”

Mayor Shari Cantor, who was deputy mayor at the time, and Town Clerk Leon Davidoff, who was on the Town Council and had chaired the Public Safety Committee attended the celebration, and received recognition on behalf of the 2016 Town Council.

Smith also noted the ground broken by the department’s fire firefighter-paramedics. “You were among the first to deliver this new level of care, under circumstances that were unfamiliar, delicate, and at times trying. There was no 10-year history to fall back on. There was no established culture surrounding the program.” Those first firefighter-paramedics were also honored at the event.

Smith expressed gratitude to Allyn, who is now retired and lives in Florida, for having “the vision to see what his department could become, and equally important, the ability to turn what once many considered a long-shot idea into a reality. Ideas are easy; implementation is difficult,” Smith said.

Former Firefighters Local 1241 President KC Warren was recognized for the willingness to embrace the opportunity that “changed the trajectory of this department forever,” and Smith also noted the tremendous support of the Hartford Healthcare partners for their work with the department in building the ALS program.

And 10 years later, Smith said, “We are able to look back on more than 113,000 patient contacts … thousands of individual stories, people experiencing the worst moments of their lives, cardiac arrests, strokes, respiratory emergencies, traumatic injuries … medical emergencies that began as an ordinary day, ordinary families, until suddenly they weren’t.” Because of the advanced medical care. provided by the West Hartford firefighter-paramedics, many of those people are walking around today, celebrating holidays.

Smith said that when the program was built, those involved refused to accept limits. “We should approach the next 10 years with the same mindset. We must continue expanding our capability,” he said and continue to improve and provide even better service.

Allyn told the audience – who filled the tables at the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium – that the for him program started as a dream back in 1986, and ultimately became an evolution in service by the fire department to the town when implemented in 2016.

“The progress of 2016 is not a destination. It was the beginning of a journey,” Allyn said.

Cantor said that Ron Van Winkle, who was West Hartford’s town manager at the time, played an important role in working with the Town Council on thinking about what taking over the ALS role, which had been provided by American Medical Response (AMR), could mean for the community. “The idea really grew out of a period when we were taking a hard look at public safety and at how we could strengthen our fire department and the services we were providing,” Cantor said.

After the unprecedented October snowstorm in 2011, the critical role of the firefighters became even more visibly important, and there were individuals who wanted to expand how they could serve the community at the same time as the demand for emergency services was growing. “And we were not consistently receiving the level of service from our outside provider that we believed our residents deserved,” she said. “Our fire department believed it could do better – providing faster response, stronger continuity of care, and a much more integrated emergency medical system.

The Council brought in Fitch & Associates for an independent assessment of the department staffing and operations, and that report helped “both department leadership and elected officials make thoughtful, data-driven decisions about how the service should evolve.”

According to information shared prior to the Town Council decision in 2015 to approve the West Hartford Fire Department taking on the ALS service, the contract with AMR provided for two paramedics on duty at all times during weekdays (between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and one on duty at all other times. Now, there are firefighter-paramedics at all five fire stations and significantly shorter response times to calls.

Cantor also noted that during COVID, the fire department took on an even more essential role, becoming CLIA-certified to provide COVID testing, to bring vaccines to residents, to keep essential workers safe.

“Over these 10 years this program has continued to evolve and become stronger, more efficient, and more effective. And through every change, the mission has remained the same,” she said. “To provide the very best care possible to the people who need us, when they need us most.”

Davidoff said he had recently spoken with Van Winkle, who said told him that the celebration “reflects the excellent leadership of the Town of West Hartford,” which “has a long history of doing things right.” The change to having the fire department provide paramedic services has made the town a “safer and better place,” he said.

The success of the program, Davidoff said, is not due to any one person or organization. “It was teamwork. … It’s about our community,” he said. “Our community, I can happily report today, is safer, better protected, because of well-trained professional members of our fire department” who respond to the calls for service.

“It’s not a job for them. It’s a mission that they seek to provide the best care to the residents, and our community places the top priority on public safety,” Davidoff said. That’s why the town is consistently listed as a best place to live, he added.

Priest presented awards to many of those who were instrumental in establishment and implementation of the paramedic program – including to Allyn and the paramedic working group, the members of the 2016 Town Council, and Van Winkle for their vision. Cantor was also honored as a champion of the program for her advocacy, and several members of the Hartford Healthcare Medical Control team were honored as well for their partnership.

The first group of West Hartford Fire Department firefighter-paramedics was also recognized, with several present to receive an award.

And then Priest surprised Smith – who in 2016 as a lieutenant was brought into headquarters for a critical role as a first-line supervisor in implementing the program. “Behind the scenes, what Jarrad also is, is he is just brilliant in his vision, his execution, his logistics, and he’s really their to tie our people together.” Priest said Smith has been there for all the major decisions, “always focused on the patient, th epeople, the community, and what’s right,” while maintaining the trust and respect of all involved.

Priest said Smith deserves even more than the plaque indicating his award, and asked those in the room to salute him.

“Today we honored the people who built the first 10 years, but we should remenber that their greatest legacy isn’t simply what was created,” Smith said in his closing remarks. The next chapter belongs to all of the firefighter-paramedics.

“Own it, protect it, challenge it, make it better,” said Smith. “Never become satisfied with what we’re doing today. Keep pushing to expand our capability, keep demanding excellence from each other. Never lose sight of the privilege and responsibility that comes from being invited into someone’s home,” he said, on what might be their worst day.

In the past 10 years, “the standard has been set,” Smith said. What comes next is yours to continue to build.”

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.