The following was compiled in part from a press release from the First Selectman’s office.
Wilton Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Jim Blanchfield has been named as the first ever recipient of the Lewisboro NY Regional 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Management Award recognizing him for his outstanding contributions to emergency management.
In a press release from First Selectman Toni Boucher, she said she had “tremendous pride” in announcing Blanchfield’s honor.
“First responders are the backbone of emergency services and our Town. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and 911 dispatchers are the first to arrive at the scene of emergencies, providing critical assistance and often risking their own lives to save others. Jim has helped to create one of the very best CERT teams in the state. We are thrilled that the NY State Citizens Preparedness Corps, a division of Homeland Security, agrees that Chief Blanchfield’s dedication to public service deserves this honor,” Boucher wrote.
“Town employees and I nominated Chief Blanchfield for this recognition because of his outstanding contributions to emergency management throughout our region. In our nomination letter, we noted that Chief Blanchfield’s leadership qualities, in particular his dependability, responsiveness, collaborative problem solving, and tireless worth ethic, were prevalent during the historic flood of Aug. 19, 2024. Chief Blanchfield and his team sprang into action, evacuating residents and animals from their homes. Under the Chief’s direction, the evacuees were immediately provided comfort and access to shelter and food. In the following weeks, they and all of the storm’s victims, business owners and residents alike, were given a steady flow of helpful information on how to move forward from the devastation. His constant communication and organizational skills were extraordinary and allowed our area residents and businesses to recover from this disaster in record time. And Homecoming was saved after he deployed his staff to assist our Parks and Recreation Director recover Wilton’s high school football field from the massive amount of mud that covered it. Everyone believed that removing the mud would take weeks and the game would have to be cancelled. Instead, Chief Blanchfield used powerful firehoses to remove the mud in a matter of days. As a result, homecoming proceeded without interruption to the relief of players, students, coaches and parents alike,” Boucher wrote.
“This event in Chief Blanchfield’s career perfectly illustrates his enthusiasm when responding to a natural disaster or an everyday emergency. He is the first to step up and lend a hand solving problems, and by example instills confidence and a can-do attitude in his staff, other departments in town, our schools and our community. He stands as a role model for the first responders under his direction, across the region and the emergency services profession, embodying all the best qualities that this award honors,” Boucher wrote.
“We are proud of his leadership and are thankful that Lewisboro NY Regional 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee has decided that Chief Blanchfield is worthy of this important award,” Boucher wrote.