This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/09/2022 02:44 PMOn Sept. 8, Branford Assistant Fire Chief Gary Bloomquist finished a remarkable span of over 40 years of service to the firefighting profession between two towns, and was honored with a retirement ceremony at Branford Fire Department (BFD) headquarters.
The Branford native got his start volunteering with M.P. Rice Hose Co. 2 as a cadet at age 17. In 1984, he was hired as a full-time firefighter/EMT by then-Branford Fire Department chief Jack Ahern. Five and a half years later, Bloomquist joined West Haven’s West Shore Fire Department (WSFD). He was on the job with WSFD for 22 years, including 17 years in leadership as Lieutenant and then Captain.
“I learned a tremendous amount, but also I brought a lot of knowledge and experience from the five and half years I had in Branford with me,” said Bloomquist.
Bloomquist was Captain (Shift Commander) when he retired from WSFD in 2011. He soon realized he really wasn’t ready to retire. So, he went back on the job – as a rookie.
“I took the Branford entry-level test,” said Bloomquist. “Then, Chief Ahern called me and said, ‘We have an opening, if you're serious about coming here.’ I said, ‘I absolutely am.’ So, I retired from West Shore in December of 2011; and started Jan 2, 2012, back in Branford. I started as a probationary rookie, and I loved it! I knew my role. Some people say, ‘Well, why did you do that?’ I wasn’t ready to give it up yet.”
Bloomquist completed his probationary year, and also completed Paramedic school, during his early return to Branford. After five and half years back with BFD, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Safety and Administration.
“I was fortunate that a lot of my experience and education I’ve had over the years put me in the position to take the Deputy Chief administrator’s test, which is basically training officer for the department; and I was fortunate to be promoted to get that position.”
For Bloomquist, providing training and safety education to his fellow firefighters has always been the most rewarding aspect of his firefighting career.
“It was the ideal position for me,” Bloomquist said of becoming Deputy Chief. “I’ve been very fortunate, over the years, in my two departments that I’ve worked with, to have some great mentors and those that were willing to share information. I tried to be like a sponge. It can be difficult to learn from experience in this job; so when you can learn from others’ experiences and then put it together with training, it’s kind of like you’ve been there before, but you haven’t. There’s this series of firsts that every individual in this industry will come to at some point. Something they have never seen or been through before. Hopefully, they’ll have some education, and some of the stories from some of the senior firefighters, to put all together and know how to react and what to do. That comes from training and experience and listening.”
Bloomquist said today’s firefighters have the ability, through the internet, to learn from the outcomes of reviews of tragic incidents worldwide.
“Especially when we get the U.S. Fire Administration’s line of duty death announcements, we owe it to those firefighters to learn from that call. They always summarize what happens and then [follow-up] on what happened, what could have gone better, what didn’t go according to plan; everything that led up to that tragic incident. And we owe it to every firefighter that goes through something like that to learn from it.”
Even after Bloomquist was promoted to BFD Assistant Chief in 2021, he said he still enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with BFD’s current Deputy Chief of Safety and Administration, John Cudgma, on training and safety.
“I loved that I was still able to keep my hands in training,” said Bloomquist.
Speaking with Zip06/The Sound, BFD Chief Tom Mahoney said Bloomquist has always prioritized the importance of learning to achieve the best possible outcomes in safety, training and service for the public and firefighters.
“Throughout his career of more than 40 years, Gary was a true professional,” said Mahoney. “Whether as a Firefighter, Paramedic or officer, he always put public safety first. He was a lifelong learner who worked to improve his craft up until his last day on the job. He was a firefighter’s firefighter, he had their back. Gary worked to master the job and was willing to pass on what he learned to others. As Assistant Chief, he was a trusted partner and friend. We wish him all the best in retirement.”
Mahoney also shared praise for Bloomquist at the Sept. 8 retirement ceremony, together with presentations made to Bloomquist by Branford First Selectman Jaime Cosgrove and Branford Fire Commission chair Robert Massey Jr.
Bloomquist said he was very grateful for the ceremony and the support he’s received as a proud member of BFD through the years.
“I want to recognize the support of the entire organization, from the Board of Fire Commissioners to Chief Mahoney, to the shift officers and the firefighter paramedics,” said Bloomquist. “They work really hard, and they hold their responsibilities to high esteem. I think we’ve created an elevation in service, and I hope that just continues. They really do a fantastic job at the fire department.”
In addition to the Sept. 8 ceremony at Branford Fire Headquarters, Bloomquist was celebrated with a retirement party at the Owenego Tennis and Beach Club. He said it’s been a “rollercoaster” of emotions in the past few days, but he’s grateful for all of the well wishes he’s received, and continues to receive, from calls, emails and on social media. He and his wife, Nancy plan to move to North Carolina within just a few days, where they have a new home waiting for them.
“I’ve heard people say if you’re happy with what you’re doing, you never have to go to work. That’s my whole career. I’m very fortunate that’s how it’s been,” said Bloomquist.