"leadjammer", that was just mentioned to me the day before by a friend in New London FD. He had stated he read that there were plans to close New Havens Engine 9.
Let me say this, I have a few good friends within the NHFD and I will try to check into that. However, I do remember maybe two years ago there was talk of closing "Engine 8", NOT Engine 9, and replace that with the addition of Two more Emergency Units.
You are correct, at one time, there were Four Emergency Units. As I remember, they were in the following firehouses.
1) Emergency 1 w/Eng 4, Truck 1
2) Emergency 2 w/Eng 11, Truck 2
3) Emergency 3 w/Eng 5
4) Emergency 4 w/Eng 6/Truck 4
Engine 9 is one of the busiest engines in the city. So this really surprises me about Eng 9 as being closed. However, as you know, both Engine 8 and Engine 9 have Squad Cos in their firehouse as well.
I plan to send out a few text messages and emails today, and hopefully get a response from a few of these guys.
Just as a point of interest, as I remember, when Engine 3 and 7 were closed, they created the two Tactical Units, which later became Squads 1 and 2 as we know them today.
Also, based on a few facts, New Haven is the Third largest city in Connecticut, yet they are the busiest for number of runs, plus number of serious working building fires per year.
I salute every member of the Elm City's Bravest.