The guy behind the signs

East Haddam Fire Department Engineer Rob Kolek stands outside the sign at Company 1.

Submitted by the East Haddam Fire Department

If you’ve driven past the East Haddam Fire Department in the last 10 months and found yourself laughing, smiling, or snapping a photo of the sign out front, you’re not alone. The witty, timely, and often hilarious messages are the work of EHFD Engineer Rob Kolek.

What started as a fun way to engage the community has grown into something people now actively look forward to. One of Kolek’s most ambitious efforts came during the holidays, when he created the “12 Days of EHFD,” changing the sign every single day with a new themed message for the community to enjoy.

But while the signs may have made him locally “famous,” fellow EHFD personnel know that humor is only one small part of what Kolek brings forward. As an engineer for the department, Kolek is responsible for maintaining several pieces of apparatus and equipment critical to department operations.

He also serves as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and as part of the department’s fire police unit. Around the firehouse, he’s known as someone who is constantly willing to jump in and help wherever needed.

At a time when many communities feel increasingly disconnected, one fire department member with a sense of humor and a changing signboard has managed to create something simple but meaningful: a reason for people to smile on their drive through town.