Beloved Orange fire marshal killed in crash

Orange Fire Marshal Tim Smith in 2017. Orange Fire Marshal Tim Smith in 2017. Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media File Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Beloved Orange fire marshal killed in crash 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

ORANGE — The town’s longtime, beloved Fire Marshal Tim Smith died Sunday in a motor vehicle accident on the way home to Prospect from a fire call, officials have confirmed.

Orange Police Chief Bob Gagne said he and the department are, “shocked and deeply saddened,” by the “tragic” loss of Smith.

“Tim was a dedicated father and consummate professional. He was loved by friends and family and he was well-respected by public safety professionals in the fire, law enforcement, emergency medical and emergency management services,” Gagne said. “We grieve his passing and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”

Smith, 56, is the father of two daughters.

Flags in town flew at half staff Monday at the town’s firehouses and on the Green, and black bunting was draped across the top of the main firehouse on the Boston Post Road.

Smith’s body was escorted past the town's main firehouse Monday to Cody-White Funeral Home by state and Orange police. Fire Chief Vaughn Dumas and Deputy Fire Marshal James Vincent rode in the procession as firefighters, the auxiliary, and First Selectman Jim Zeoli saluted their friend and colleague. Smith’s uniform was there as well.

“Tim was one of my closest friends. ... He was in my wedding and vice versa,” said retired former Assistant Police Chief Anthony Cuozzo Sr. “He was the consummate professional and a true gentleman. Truly dedicated to his daughters, his friends and his career. Our family’s heart is broken for his truly untimely passing.”

The crash happened in Woodbridge Sunday at about 4:47 p.m. on Litchfield Turnpike (Route 69) south of Downs Road, according to a press release from the Woodbridge Police Department.

Woodbridge police Monday confirmed Smith was the driver.

The release states the crash involved a single vehicle and the operator was the sole occupant. The Connecticut State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit is assisting with the investigation.

Tim Smith assumed the role of fire marshal in 1989, after the retirement of George Smith (no relation), who had served the town for 44 years as a firefighter and 28 as fire marshal. Tim Smith previously had served as deputy fire marshal.

During his years of service to the town, Tim Smith investigated many house and business fires, including several major cases such as the 1994 deaths of two teens in a house fire on Riverdale Road and the 1996 fire that caused serious damage to a barn at a historic farm.

Zeoli said he and Smith, who was “a good person, a lot of fun,” had been friends for 45 years.

“It’s a devastating, shocking loss, a surprise to all,” said Zeoli. “Words can’t express the devastation we feel from the loss.”

Former first selectman and current Board of Selectmen member Mitch Goldblatt said Smith was “one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. He always had a smile and always a positive attitude.”

Goldblatt said he knew Smith on many levels: as fire marshal, as a town employee, and a wonderful dad to his daughters, Hannah and Alexa, both students at UConn. Smith shined in all his roles, but nothing was of more importance than his role as a dad, said Goldblatt, whose daughter is close friends with Smith’s daughter Alexa.

“They were the loves of his life,” Goldblatt said, saying Smith never missed one of their field hockey games. “They’ve got quite a memory (of him). It’s sad that it was cut so short — they should have had many more,’’ he said.

Goldblatt said Smith was a “handy guy,” who took great pride in his role as fire marshal.

“It’s unfathomable. He’s been so long in that role,” it’s hard to believe this is the way his role would end, Goldblatt said.

West Haven Fire Department, Allingtown district acting chief and Fire Marshal Mike Esposito, who also is a member of the Orange Volunteer Fire Department, interacted with Smith in several roles.

Esposito, who had Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was reached at the office, saying he went in anyway because he was having a tough time processing Smith’s death.

Esposito said he keeps thinking about how he had just seen Smith at the Orange fire — it turned out to be a small kitchen fire — and “a couple of hours later the accident happened.”

“I was with him the afternoon — it’s a lot to take in,” Esposito said. “It’s a big loss or the community — too young.”

Esposito said that as a fire marshal in a neighboring town, Smith was always willing to answer questions and was cooperative with West Haven when they came up against difficulties.

Woodbridge Fire Chief Sean Rowland said Sunday — the day of the crash — was a “rough day” for his department, which responded to the scene.

“We’ve been working with Timmy for over 20 years. Super nice guy, he would take his shirt off his back for you,” Rowland said. “ He was funny and a great guy overall.”

Rowland said Smith had vast knowledge, which he was always willing to share with fire service in other communities and “excelled” in teaching, including many classes where he taught Woodbridge firefighters, including about hazmat and other topics.

As news of the tragedy spread on Facebook, condolences and prayers for Smith’s family and friends poured into comments sections.

Retired West Haven Police Chief Ronald Quagliani, currently chief public safety officer at University of New Haven wrote on Facebook that he worked on various projects with Smith when he was with the police department.

“So sad to hear this awful news,” Quagliani wrote.

“One thing was always a certain with Tim; he was always willing to lend a hand to those that needed it,” Quagliani wrote. “Just by talking to Tim and seeing his smile you knew right away he loved what he did - serving the people of Orange or as he told me having, ‘The best job in the world.”’

Other comments on various Facebook sites included many users noting what a loss Smith’s death is for the town of Orange and fire services, how much he will be missed, how much he was loved and that news of the accident was “heartbreaking” and devastating.