Fire chief reports accreditation, cancer screenings funded and 100% response for September

Hartford Fire Department Chief Steve Barco told the Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee Thursday that the department has completed accreditation, is preparing city-funded cancer screening for members, and achieved a 100% performance response rate for September.

Chief Barco said the city allocated about $110,000 to contract a mobile vendor for cancer screening, with the screenings planned for mid-January; he referred to a vendor he knows as “PBM” and noted an alternative, UDS Health, was mentioned by members during the meeting. “The city was gracious enough to give us about a 110,000 to do a cancer screening for all of our members,” Barco said.

Why it matters: Firefighter cancer screening initiatives and turnout-gear replacement affect long-term occupational health and readiness. The department also described asset and infrastructure work—tests of radios and repeaters ahead of a planned radio infrastructure cutover and planning for firehouse renovations.

Other operational notes: Barco said an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application is in process for turnout gear replacement. For September the department’s community outreach work included fire-prevention activities reaching 692 adults and 343 children (1,035 people total), installation of 24 smoke alarms and seven carbon-monoxide alarms, and attendance at 16 community NRZ meetings. Major incidents in September included a vacant-building fire at 258 Capement Street, a mattress fire at 35 Lenoir Street with no displacements reported, and a porch fire on Farmington Avenue.

Training and cadets: Barco said the department operates cadet and ride-time programs; five cadets completed firefighter skills and hazmat training with an average grade of 80. The department completed driver and promotion testing last week and is monitoring upcoming retirements that could trigger new recruit classes.

Discussion and follow-up: Council members asked about call-volume patterns and seasonal trends; Barco said EMS and calls-for-service can fluctuate by month and that holiday periods often see higher volumes. The chief invited committee members to tour fire facilities.

Sources and attribution: Quotes and statistics are from Chief Steve Barco’s presentation at the committee meeting on 10/09/2025.