03/09/10 New London

Shortly before 10pm on Tuesday night, City of New London firefighters had their hands full responding to 283 Willetts Ave. for a reported structure fire. While en route, Station A advised of occupants trapped on the third floor. First due companies arrived transmitting a working fire and confirmed numerous occupants in the windows on the upper floor. On arrival of the on duty Battalion, a second alarm was transmitted and first due Truck was advised to ladder all sides due to people hanging from the windows.

Waterford Fire, Companies 1, 3, 4 and 5, were requested to the scene with a second due FAST from Mohegan Tribe. Approximately thirty minutes into the operation, Command sounded the evacuation tone ordering all companies out of the building. A Tower-Ladder from Poquonnock Bridge and additional Ambulances from Groton, Montville and East Lyme were requested to assist with operations and coverage of the city.

After knocking down the bulk of the fire with master streams, companies were able to work there way back into the building to extinguish the blaze. After all was done, approximately 8 - 10 occupants were rescued from the building with 4 transports to the area Hospital.

Photos courtesy of Mike Nebelung, Frank Summers, Eric Quinn,

Mariaha Knight and Jason Snow

03/09/2010 LODD Beacon Falls

Beacon Falls

Department treats passing as

line-of-duty death

firefighter dies while responding to call




BEACON FALLS -- A longtime firefighter died in the line of duty early Wednesday while responding to a call.Kevin Swan, 69, a firefighter with Beacon Hose Company No. 1, woke around 5 a.m. to respond to a fire call on Susan Street, said Jeremy Rodorigo, a Beacon Hose spokesman.Swan signed on the radio, but did not show up at the call. He was found around 8 a.m. inside his pickup in his driveway, Rodorigo said.He was taken by ambulance to Griffin Hospital in Derby, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 9 a.m., he said.Fire officials are still trying to detemine exactly what happened, Rodorigo said. The department is treating it as a line of duty death, he said.

Read Thursday's Republican-American for more on this story.

1/25/10 Jewett City

Photo courtesy of Gerald Lattin

Shortly before midnight, Jewett City Fire Department was requested to respond to 124 North Main St. (Route 12) for a reported structure fire. Due to the amount of 911 calls being received, Quinebaug Valley dispatch added Griswold, Lisbon and Taftville to the assignment. First due units arrived to find heavy fire showing from the front of a single story commercial building with a three story attached apartment building located on the C-side.

Crews from the engine and ladder made there way into the fire building trying to contain the fire. After about forty-five minutes, the blaze gained the upper hand and Jewett City Chief Smith (Car 56) ordered everyone out of the building. Defensive operations were put into place eventually knocking down the fire. Firefighters remained on the scene well into the night extinguishing hot spots and assisting the Griswold and State FMO.

Mutual aid was provided by Taftville, Plainfield, Voluntown and Mohegan Tribe (FAST) with Hose Tenders from Laurel Hill and Scotland. Two firefighters were transported to Backus Hospital in Norwich with injuries related to the fire.

1/23/10 Norwich (City)

Firefighters from Norwich, Local 892, were summoned for another job Saturday night. The second one in the city's district in less than twenty-four hours. Shortly before 7pm Norwich Fire dispatch notified all city companies to respond to 65 Prospect St., in the Greenville section of the city, for a structure fire, numerous calls being received.

First due, Engine 2, found a three story occupied Multi family with smoke pushing from the upper floors and active fire in the rear of the building. Taftville and Mohegan Tribe (FAST) were added to the assignment. Soon after, Command added Laurel Hill and Yantic bringing in other Norwich volunteer companies to cover empty stations. About a half hour into the incident, the evacuation tone was sounded pulling everyone out of the building. Master stream operations were put into place eventually knocking down the blaze.

Despite great efforts from all on scene, the building was a total loss. The Norwich FMO is investigating to determine the cause.

Photos courtesy of Chad Johnson

1/08/10 East Lyme (Flanders)

Shortly before 08:00, on a cold snowy Friday. Flanders Engine 21, 22, Tower 25, Rescue 27 and B-200 with Niantic Engine 1 were requested to respond to the former JCPenny warehouse on Mostowy Rd. for a reported structure fire. Flanders Chief Foley (B-2), one of the first units to arrive, found smoke showing from a 1 story metal clad structure. A working fire was transmitted adding the FAST from Mohegan Tribe to the assignment.

As first in companies went to work, Chief Foley requested a second alarm, bringing in two additional engines and a truck from Niantic. After a couple of hours battling the blaze, firefighters were able to gain the upper hand and extinguish the fire. Members remained on scene throughout the morning extinguishing hot spots.

Waterford and Old Lyme Fire Departments covered empty East Lyme stations and responded to numerous other emergency calls. The State and Town of East Lyme Fire Marshal offices are investigating the cause.

Photos courtesy of Frank Summers

Shorlty after arrival

10/29/09 Norwich (Taftville)

Photos courtesy of Brian Tuttle

Shortly after 15:00 Thursday, Taftville firefighters responded to this truck verses school bus. One patient from the S-10 was transported with injuries to Backus Hospital.

10/27/09 East Lyme (Niantic)

Engine 3 and Truck 1 investigate this possible structure fire at 8 Elizabeth St. in the Saunders Point section of town Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after 12:00 the Niantic and Flanders Fire Departments arrived and found a smoke condition in the home that was related to a downdraft that had occurred in the chimney. Companies took up a short time later.

Photos courtesy of Alissa Johnson

10/27/09 Norwich (Taftville)

Taftville firefighters assist with disconnecting a boat trailer from this overturned F-150 on Merchants Ave. Tuesday morning.

Photos courtesy of Brian Tuttle

10/16/09 Norwich (Yantic)

Yantic and Taftville firefighters were able to contain a small fire in the Stop and Shop Supermarket on Town St. Monday night. Companies arrived to find a smoke condition in the building and quickly went to work locating and containing the fire in a display case located inside the store.

Photos courtesy of Brian Tuttle

10/4/09 Salem Burn House

Firefighters from Salem, Gardner Lake, Colchester and other area departments met at the Salem Burn House on Route 82 for the last time Sunday morning. Companies conducted some last live fire trainings before letting the A-Frame home burn to the ground.

Over the last three years, with help from the Salem Fire Department, this house assisted departments from all over Connecticut and then some with many useful trainings such as, live fire, Search and Rescue, Rapid Intervention Team and Truck and Engine company operations to name a few.

It's not to often that area fire departments are able to obtain a home like this to use for this purpose. A special thanks to the House of Doors and all of the Instructors that helped make this possible.

Photos courtesy of Joyce Miller

10/14/09 Pfizer

With the help of the Old Mystic Fire Department, members of the Pfizer Fire Department, Pfizer Fire Brigade and Security Response Officers attended there annual live fire training today at the Old Mystic Training grounds off of Oral School Road. Members completed evolutions on Interior fire suppression, Vehicle fires, Interior Search and Rescue and extinguishment of an LPG fire. This was one of two classes Pfizer held at the training grounds within the past two weeks.

Pfizer Engine 1 (G-91)