Retired Berlin Fire Chief Edward Haber Passes Away

It is with our deepest regret that The Berlin Fire Department is announcing the passing of Retired Chief Edward F. Haber on this day, Friday November 30, 2012. The funeral arrangements for Edward Haber are forthcoming.

Edward F. Haber had served the community for 55-plus years, and within those years Ed Haber has accomplished so much.

Ed was a Charter Member of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department (1943), as well as a member from 1943-2012 (68 years). Edward Haber served as the Chief of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department for 37 years. Ed was also a Fire Marshal from 1955-1988 (33 years).

When Ed retired from the Berlin Fire Department in 2001, the Firehouse was dedicated in his honor. Ed was the President for the Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan from 1965-1967. Ed was also instrumental in starting Hartford County Fire School (Bloomfield) in 1969, and he was also an instructor when the school first began. Ed was very active and also served on the committee for both the Hartford County Fire School and the CT Fire Academy. Ed was the Commissioner of Fire Prevention and Control from 1987-2005 (18 years). Ed was also President of the CT Fire Marshals 1954-1955, President of CT Fire Chiefs in 1976 and Secretary of the CT Fire Chiefs from 1993-2009.

Ed was also a member of the International Associate of Fire Chiefs in 1970 and he was the Director of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs for 4 years. Ed has been a member of the National Fire Protection Association since 1974.  Ed was named into the Hall of Fame for the Connecticut State Firefighters Association on April 7, 2010.

Some of Ed’s other accomplishments, was that he was the first Hurst Tool salesman in the State of Connecticut. Ed was employed by the Town of Berlin at the Municipal Garage as the Chief Mechanic, and later as the first paid Town Fire Marshal.