To The Editor:

The volunteers and family members of Botsford Fire Rescue (Newtown, CT) cannot begin to convey our humble and truly heartfelt gratitude to the countless individuals who responded to support us as we processed the news and mourned the tragic loss of our beloved First Assistant Chief Peter (“Pete”) Joseph Blomberg.

It is during times like these that organizations like our volunteer fire company can turn our attention toward taking the best care of our own, knowing we are wrapped in the love and support of not only the incredible Newtown community, but also of the network of brothers and sisters in fire and emergency services, the companies they represent, and the many other organizations, agencies, businesses, and individuals who reached out to us from Newtown as well as from across the state and nation.

Your outpouring of condolences, offers of donations, coverage, and best wishes are — in many ways — still too overwhelming to fully grasp. But please know from the bottom of our hearts that we so appreciate everything you have done for us.

At the same time, we want to reassure the community that while Botsford Fire Rescue was in mourning, the community was still safe in the hands of the many fire departments who sent personnel, volunteers, and apparatus to cover for us, and the other local fire companies — Newtown Hook & Ladder, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1 Inc, Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company #1 — that were participating in all the ceremonial activities.

Botsford Fire Rescue cannot possibly acknowledge each and every one of you in this message, but we would like to especially recognize...

Newtown Police Department, Southbury Fire Dept, Trumbull Center Fire Co 1, Long Hill Fire Department, Nichols Fire Department, Wolcott Volunteer Fire Department Company 1, Riverside Fire Co, Cheshire Fire Department, Bethlehem Firefighters Association, Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Thirty-One, Inc, Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department, Watertown Fire Department, Seymour Fire Dept, Water Witch Hose Co #2 of New Milford, Bantam Fire Company, Morris Volunteer Fire Department, Northville Vol Fire Department, Connecticut State Police, Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communication Center.

Jay Nezvesky

President Botsford Fire & Rescue