Sunday, June 16, 2013  The Officers and Members of the Carlisle Fire Company & Carlisle Ladies Auxiliary take this opportunity to wish all Father's a Happy and Safe Father's Day!

The quarterly meeting of the Delaware State Fire Chief's Association and the Delaware Emergency Medical Services Association will be hosted at Kent County Fire Station 50, Harrington, DE on June 27, 2013. The Annual June meeting also includes a 1 day expo featuring Fire and EMS  Apparatus, Fire Service related equipment vendors and related Fire Service displays. The Expo begins at 3:00 pm and will run through until 7:00 pm followed up by the Associations quarterly business meetings. There is no charge for admission and everyone is invited to attend the Expo, you do not have to be a member of either Association to visit the Annual Expo. The Officers and Members of the State Chief's and EMS Associations hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  Barry R. Fry joined Carlisle Fire Company as a volunteer firefighter on March 2, 1972. Raised in nearby Harrington, Barry begun his long and distinguished fire service career by joining the Harrington Fire Company in 1964. Barry graduated from Harrington High School where he lettered in; football, basketball, baseball and track. Upon graduation from HHS Barry attended the University of Delaware where he played lacrosse for two years before succumbing to a knee injury. During his four years at Delaware, Barry enrolled into the University’s ROTC program and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, US Army; Artillery. While attending Delaware, Barry participated with the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark. During his college career at Delaware, Barry would go to classes at UD during the week and return home on weekends to attend fire school classes.

 

Upon graduation from Delaware Barry continued serving his Country, serving in the Army from 1969 through 1972, and obtaining the rank of First Lieutenant. Returning home he joined the Army Reserve and was assigned to the 315th S & S Company in Dover. Promoted to the rank of Captain, Barry transferred over to the Delaware National Guard and was assigned as Company Commander of the 945th Maintenance Company, in Milford. Barry remained in the Milford unit for ten years before leaving the military due to knee surgery. Upon returning from the Army, Barry lived in Camden, Delaware where he spent a brief period with the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company. Relocating and moving to Milford, Barry began his teaching career at Milford Senior High School as the school’s  Agriculture Teacher and FFA advisor, a position he held for 37 ½ years before retiring in 2010.

 

Throughout his volunteer fire service career with Carlisle, Barry has held a variety of administrative and operational positions including, Director, Vice President and President of Carlisle for 7 ½ years. In fact, Barry served on the Company’s Board of Directors for 25 years. During those many years as an administrative officer with the Company, Barry, served in an operational capacity as well including Fire Line Captain as well as 2nd Assistant Fire Chief for many years. From the early beginnings of his career in Harrington and brief memberships in Newark and Camden-Wyoming to his Life Long membership with Carlisle, Barry has earned over 870 hours of fire related training from basic firefighting skills through staff and command classes. In addition, Barry has attended vehicle rescue, water rescue, pump operator and small tools classes that enhanced his knowledge and skills throughout his career with Carlisle. In fact, in 1992 Barry was recognized as Carlisle’s “Fireman of the Year”. Another honor for him was being selected as a “Grand Marshal” representing our Department at one of the State’s largest Annual “Community” Parades hosted right here in Milford. 

 

Barry’s passions in life extend beyond the fire service. He is a family man, with his wife Carol and two daughters Renee and Lisa as well as his three grandchildren; Ashley, Tayg and Tanner. Barry will also be quick to include the name of an extended family member as well, his outdoor companion ‘Storm” a 2 ½ year yellow lab. His passion for the outdoors culminates a large portion of his life beyond his skills as an Ag teacher, but includes his skills and appreciation as a hunter and waterman. Whether it is hunting pheasant or in his boat for duck or goose, which is his comfort zone and when he is not hunting you may find Barry in the bay or out in the Atlantic fishing for trout or flounder however, beyond any passion Barry’s calling in life was to be a teacher. During his career Barry continued enhancing his profession as a teacher by receiving his Master’s Degree from Wilmington College in Secondary School Administration and Instruction, certifying as a Secondary School Administrator. His passion for teaching and his background in the fire service lead to Barry enrolling in to the “Methods of Instruction” course certifying in 1983 as a fire school instructor with the Delaware State Fire School. Since 1984, Barry has taught a variety of classes from basic firefighter’s skills that included SCBA, small tools, forcible entry, ladders and extinguishers. In addition, he also teaches vehicle rescue, water rescue, power tools, as well as emergency vehicle operator and driver operator courses. Even though Barry is retired as a full time teacher you can still find him today at the Fire School or at a local fire station instructing and preparing Delaware firefighter’s providing them the skills necessary with answering the call.

 

During his professional career Barry has been recognized not only by his students but to the many peers he has been associated with throughout the educational community to include Delaware Agriculture Teacher of the Year, Past President and Treasurer, Past member of the University of Delaware Extension Safety Coordinating Committee, Past Member of the U of D Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors. Past President and former Board of Director to the Harrington High School Alumni Association and Past Chairman of the Milford High School Vocational Department, a position he held for twenty years. One of Barry’s proudest moments were to be awarded the “Teacher Who Made a Difference” nominated by a student and presented by WBOC TV, and Ruritan of the Year presented by the Cedarfield Ruritan Club.

 

Today Barry serves as President of the Milford FFA Alumni Association, is an active member of the Cedarfield Ruritan Club, Member of the Milford School Board and continues volunteering as an instructor with the Delaware Hunter Safety as well as Boating Safety programs. Obviously Barry has made a profound impact not only within our community as a teacher but statewide within the Delaware Fire Service as an Instructor. Barry still reaches out to teach the lessons to be learned and applied by Firefighters throughout our state to better serve our citizens and visitors alike.

 

As you can tell Barry continues providing an active role in the community. Whether it is reaching out and reinforcing the safety of our young sportsmen or ensuring the finest quality to education remains the highest priority to him for the present as well as to the future generations in Milford and throughout the state. As busy as Barry seems he continues to serve our department as well, attending monthly meetings as well as various county and state fire service functions. Having a true educator like Barry has provided endless opportunities to learn and use the techniques he has provided over the years from the various classrooms he has instructed.   On March 5, 1992, Barry was honored for faithfully providing Carlisle twenty years of continuous service to the community, receiving his life membership. The combination of his educational background coupled with his military background has provided tremendous contributions to all of us over the years regarding him professionally as well as personally as an honored and respected member of the Carlisle Fire Company of Milford.

 

Past President and Life Member, Barry R. Fry one of today’s true Pioneers of Carlisle!

 

Photo By: G.Gillespie

Friday, June 7, 2013  Schools throughout our city have closed and summer vacation has officially begun. Drivers need to be more mine full to be on the lookout for our children now that school is out adds to additional pedestrian traffic throughout the community. As the seasonal start to summer approaches ever so closer we need to ensure the summer months ahead will be fun as well as safe. Take a few minutes to click on to our “Fire Prevention” link to review our tips in camping and hiking, hot weather recommendations, swimming & boating suggestions and finally summer fire safety. If you have any questions or would like a safety or Fire Prevention class this summer you can contact us at 422-8001. Have a great summer vacation from your friends and neighbors with the Carlisle Fire Company.