Monroe Fire Marshal Bill Davin inducted into CSFA Hall of Fame

MONROE, CT — Fire Marshal William “Bill” Davin held every position in the Monroe Volunteer Fire Co. in his 47 years of service, including a long run as chief. He has fought and investigated fires, big and small, and taught fire prevention and safety tips to thousands of children in Monroe’s schools.

It is a public safety career that did not go unnoticed by the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, which inducted Davin into the Hall of Fame during a dinner at the Aqua Turf in Southingon on Sept. 23.

“I’m extremely honored to be inducted into the CSFA Hall of Fame,” Davin said. “The company I’m now included with are the best of the best.”

In a post on the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department, No. 1 Inc. Facebook page, fellow firefighters congratulated Davin and thanked his wife, Judy, and children, Dustin and Emily, for providing the support that allowed his career to flourish.

“We are very proud that Bill was honored with this distinction,” said Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Catalano. “He’s dedicated all of his adult life to the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department and we are lucky that he still remains an active and contributing member of the department.”

“I’m so incredibly proud of Bill Davin,” First Selectman Ken Kellogg said. “He’s very committed to the community. He’s a volunteer for Monroe Fire, as well as a career fire marshal. He does an incredible job and I’m happy to see him earn this recognition.”

Family roots

Firefighting runs in Davin’s family. His late father, Charles H. Davin, was a Monroe fire chief, who was inducted into the CSFA Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013, his two brothers were firefighters, and their mother, Marion, was on the fire company’s Women’s Auxiliary.

Davin’s wife, Judy, and daughter, Emily, currently serve on the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary, and his stepson, Dustin Holt, became a Monroe fire lieutenant, as well as a career firefighter in Greenwich.

Bill Davin joined the MVFD as a Junior firefighter in 1973 at age 13. Since that time, he became a firefighter and rose through the ranks, from lieutenant to captain and finally chief in 1992, at age 32. He led the department for 17 years in that capacity.

After serving as the town’s deputy fire marshal for many years, Davin was hired as fire marshal in 2004 and still holds the position. He is a State Certified Fire Officer II and Fire Marshal.

In addition to earning many certifications and winning several service awards over the years, Davin is an active member and past president of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Association, and was a founding member of the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service in 1977.

Davin is president of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department and is a member and officer of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association.

Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Karin Halstead, of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, nominated Davin for the CSFA Hall of Fame and he was chosen as a member of the Class of 2020. But the COVID-19 pandemic canceled last year’s dinner.

On Sept. 23, the 2020 and 2021 classes were inducted together.

The Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Award recognizes present and former members of a State organized fire department who went above and beyond, while serving both their fire department, county and/or statewide fire service organizations.

Inductees demonstrated leadership traits and motivation for the betterment of the fire service throughout Connecticut and the United States, while contributing in a positive way to the enrichment of the organizations they represent.

Peers nominate candidates, whose applications are reviewed by the selection committee, which notifies members of a new class in January of the inductee year. The inductee class honored at the annual dinner usually has 10 to 12 members.

The Hall of Fame award, given to both career and volunteer firefighters every year, recognizes those who continue to provide leadership and experience throughout their firefighting career.

The award also serves as a means of educating and informing the public about the invaluable service and protection the fire service provides citizens of its communities, state and nation.

Davin and the other inductees will have their names added to a plaque that hangs in the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.