This Sunday, February 6, 2022, the Electric Boat Fire Department will conduct a fire training exercise involving area emergency response personnel, including 47 firefighters/EMTs from several surrounding towns. The exercise, which will take place at EB’s Groton shipyard, will act as a “walkthrough” prior to an official drill tentatively scheduled for March of this year. It’s important to note that this weekend’s exercise is not an emergency, but a way to practice and plan in the case of an actual fire on-board a submarine. Jeff Chandler, EB’s Fire Chief, and Eric Deschamps, EB’s Deputy Fire Chief, are two of the many individuals who will play an integral role in carrying out Sunday’s exercise.
Jeff Chandler became Electric Boat’s Fire Chief in November of last year, with over 35 years of experience in emergency services, focusing on hazardous materials, technical rescue and of course, firefighting. After obtaining his degree in Fire Technology and Administration, he began fire service as a volunteer in 1985 before making it his full-time career. Prior to joining the EB Fire Department, Jeff worked for the state of Connecticut, carrying out a 20-year stint with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, where his main focus was hazardous emergencies. “This is the first time a drill like this has been carried out at Electric Boat,” said Jeff. “It was never done before the 8010 standard.”
The fire that occurred on USS Miami (SSN 755) in May 2012 brought about a new set of instructions to better train crews in the case of a fire, and in 2018, the Industrial Ship Safety Manual for Fire Prevention and Response, or the 8010 manual, was formed. Under this manual, training is much more proactive, integrated and disciplined. All sailors are trained in firefighting, Jeff explained, but that incident proved it can easily become a challenge that’s tough to handle in such tight quarters. This exercise will allow the Electric Boat Fire Department, EB Security and surrounding emergency response personnel to “walk through the standard, make sure we have the right number of personnel responding and ensure that what is on paper will work.”
Deputy Chief, Eric Deschamps, worked at EB’s Fire Department from 1988 – 1996 before taking an opportunity at the Mohegan Tribal Fire Dept. He returned to Electric Boat in November 2021 and notes several positive changes since he was here last. The Fire Department now operates in-line with most municipal departments. Previously operating on three, eight-hour shifts, Eric explained that now, the 29 members of the department work 24-hours on, followed by 48-hours off. This schedule fosters productivity, job satisfaction and what both Jeff and Eric consider a “tight-knit, family atmosphere,” noting the nightly family style meals that take place in the fire house.
Not only is the department more modernized with advanced apparatus, Eric noted, but the shipyard itself has changed immensely. “When I was here last, we were working on the LA and Trident class. Now, the shipyard is consolidated, there’s progress on new construction, and returning was a great career opportunity.”
When it comes to Jeff and Eric’s vision for the Electric Boat Fire Department, there’s no shortage of goals. Both hope to further develop the skills of each firefighter, continue to modernize the department, progress along with the new and improved standard and most importantly, “continue keeping EB’s workforce safe.”
