Procession Route Announced For Late Orange Fire Marshal: UPDATE

ORANGE, CT — The wake and funeral for Orange Fire Marshal Tim Smith, who was killed in a vehicle crash in Woodbridge on Sunday, are scheduled for Jan. 24 and 25, according to officials with the Orange Volunteer Fire Department.

Hundreds are expected to the services to pay respects to Smith, who was a member of the department for more than 30 years.

Officials also released information on the procession route for Saturday from Cody-White Funeral Home in Milford to Holy Infant Church in Orange. See below:

Orange firefighters today announced the route they will take as they escort Fire Marshal Tim Smith from the Cody White Funeral Home in Milford to the Holy Infant Church in Orange for his funeral on Saturday.

Long lines are expected tomorrow afternoon as firefighters, arson investigators, police officers and municipal officials come together to pay last respects to Smith at his wake.

As one of the area’s leading fire investigators and a well-respected instructor at the Valley Regional Fire School, Smith touched the lives of numerous public safety professionals. Many of them, from across Connecticut and beyond, are expected to attend Smith’s wake from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cody White Funeral Home, 107 Broad St., Milford.

Smith died Sunday in the line of duty.

An honor guard at the funeral home is being provided by members of the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office and the Orange Volunteer Fire Association, as well as members from surrounding departments who worked with Smith. In addition, the Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard will be assisting.

Except for on-duty personnel, those attending the wake are asked to enter from the rear of the building. On-duty personnel can enter the front of the funeral home. They will be escorted to the front of the line so they can pay their respects and get back on duty.

Parking arrangements are:

· The Cody-White parking lot is reserved for the family and handicapped guests.

· The public and individual firefighters are asked to park in the Milford Senior Center lot on Jepson Drive. If the Jepson Drive lot fills up, additional parking will be available behind the Milford courthouse, 14 W. River St. A shuttle bus will run between those locations and the funeral home.

· Berchem Moses PC, attorneys, have made available their parking lot at 75 Broad St. It is designated for public safety chiefs with official cars and municipal officials.

· On-duty personnel can park their vehicles on the eastbound side of Broad Street opposite the funeral home.

Because of the number of people expected, Nelson Ambulance will have an EMS unit standing by and Milford Fire will have their canteen truck available.

Smith’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Infant Church, 450 Racebrook Road in Orange. Smith’s body will be carried to the church on the back of an Orange fire engine and accompanied by other apparatus from the Orange Fire Department, the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office and the family.

The procession, escorted by Milford and Orange police, will leave Cody White about 9:15 a.m. It will travel down South Broad Street to New Haven Avenue and turn onto Prospect Street to North Street. From North Street, it will proceed across the Boston Post Road to Orange Avenue and down to Burnt Plains Road. From Burnt Plains Road, the procession will turn on to Old Tavern Road and proceed to Orange Center Road.

At Orange Center, the procession will turn right and head to Boston Post Road, where it will turn left. The line of vehicles will pass Orange Volunteer Fire Department Station 2, where Smith’s office was located. When the line reaches Racebrook Road, it will turn left and head to Holy Infant Church.

Fire officials say the procession is limited to Orange apparatus, the police escort and family vehicles. Visiting apparatus are asked to go directly to the Holy Infant Church, where parking will be available for apparatus and guest cars. If additional parking is needed, it will be available at Saint Barbara’s Church. Parking and a shuttle bus are also available at Racebrook Country Club, 246 Derby Ave. Personnel will be on scene to direct guests to parking.

There is no graveside service. A repast is scheduled after the funeral at the Racebrook Country Club.

Smith was called to the scene of a housefire Sunday afternoon to investigate the cause. After he completed the investigation, he was headed home when he was killed in a one-vehicle motor vehicle accident. The crash is still under investigation by the Woodbridge Police Dept. and the Connecticut State Police accident reconstruction team.

Below is the department's initial announcement with information on the wake, funeral and parking arrangements for the services:

Firefighters, police and municipal officials from across Connecticut and beyond are expected to pay their respects this weekend to Orange Fire Marshal Tim Smith, who died in the line of duty Sunday.

Working on behalf of the family, First Selectman James Zeoli, Orange Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas and Deputy Fire Marshal James Vincent laid out the plans to accommodate Smith’s family and members of the public safety community who wish to attend Friday’s wake and Saturday’s funeral.

Wake – Friday, Jan. 24

Smith’s wake will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cody White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street, Milford. An honor guard is being provided by members of the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office and the Orange Volunteer Fire Association, as well as members from surrounding departments who worked with Smith. In addition, the Connecticut Statewide Honor Guard will be assisting.

Except for on-duty personnel, those attending the wake are asked to enter from the rear of the building. On-duty personnel can enter the front of the funeral home. They will be escorted to the front of the line so they can pay their respects and get back on duty.

Parking arrangements are:

· The Cody-White parking lot (2) is reserved for the family and handicapped guests.

· The public and individual firefighters are asked to park in the Milford Senior Center lot on Jepson Drive (3). If the Jepson Drive lot fills up, additional parking will be available behind the Milford courthouse, 14 W. River St. A shuttle bus will run between those locations and the funeral home.

· Berchem Moses PC, attorneys, have made their parking lot at 75 Broad St. (4) available. It is designated for public safety chiefs with official cars and municipal officials.

· On-duty personnel can park their vehicles on the eastbound side of Broad Street opposite the funeral home.

Because of the number of people expected, Nelson Ambulance will have an EMS unit standing by and Milford Fire will have their canteen truck available.

Funeral - Saturday, Jan. 25

Tim Smith’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Infant Church, 450 Racebrook Road in Orange. Parking will be available at the church. If additional parking is needed, it will be available at Saint Barbara’s Church. Personnel will be on the scene to direct guests to parking. There is no graveside service.

A repast is scheduled after the funeral at the Racebrook Country Club, 246 Derby Ave.

As is the tradition for fallen firefighters, Smith will be transported from the funeral home to the church on the back of a fire engine, accompanied by an honor guard. Apparatus from many area departments are expected to be part of the procession. The funeral will feature bagpipers from three pipe-and-drum groups, a last dispatch to honor Smith, the ringing of a ceremonial fire bell and the presentation of a flag and Smith’s helmet to his family.

During the wake and funeral, firefighters from Ansonia, Oxford, North Branford and East Haven will be in Orange to respond to alarms. AMR will post an ambulance near the church.

Smith was called to the scene of a housefire Sunday afternoon to investigate the cause. After he completed the investigation, he was headed home when he was killed in a one-vehicle motor vehicle accident. The crash is still under investigation by the Woodbridge Police Dept. and the Connecticut State Police accident reconstruction team.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the fire and police departments in surrounding towns,” said Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas. “While we work to help Tim’s family and friends, including members of our own department and the Fire Marshal’s office, the sympathy, support and very real commitment of time and resources from these other departments is helping Orange firefighters pay tribute to Tim and mourn his loss.”