Downed Wire Safety

On Sunday June 25, 2006, Taftville was dispatched to wires down on Old Canterbury Turnpike. As most of you know I'm a BIG fan of wires down calls, "I just love them!!!" those that work with me know sometimes I make fun of some departments who respond to these types of calls calling them, "a waste of time" or "Bullsh*t" we (Taftville) don't respond to that many wires down but this one was of interest. As you can see in photo #2 a tree branch fell onto some primary electrical wires causing them to fall on the ground. A primary wire was down in the front yard of a house and every once in a while we would see flames coming from that down wired photo#3. I have always had alot of respect for electricity, I still do. If there is any chance of it being energized I'm out of there!! I let the professionals handle it! Once Norwich Public Utilities arrived at the scene,the crew shut off the power to the lines at the breakers and after examining the area we found these interesting marks left by the downed power lines. (Photos 4&5) Thanks to Eric Benoit for the last 2 photos.
The lesson learned is #1 Secure the area and deny entry #2 Stay the hell back as far as possible! (rule of thumb 2 telephone poles away, and #3 let the professionals handle the situation. We don't like it when some puts out our fires so why would we want to play with electricity

Taftville Firefighters keep their distance. Wouldn't you!!!!!

Smoke and some fire emits from the branch and the ground

The energized power line
Evidence of the destructive power of electricity

House Fire - 36 Leah Ave - Griswold

June 21,2006 - At 23:30hrs the Griswold FD with mutual aid from Jewett City, Voluntown, Lisbon and The Taftville FAST repsonded to 36 Leah Ave for a Structure fire. Griswold's Car-155 (Jeff Poitras) was first on scene and reported heavy fire on side's "C" and "D". The occupant was out of the dwelling upon FD arrival and was later transported to the Backus Hopsital for eval. The fire grew in such intensity due to numereous oxygen bottles located in the area of the fire ignited. The fire was brought under control in 2 hours with no firefighters injuried.

Note:These photos were taken late due to me being at a earlier fire at the casino. I do not have photos of that fire due to a strict tribal policy of photo taking during incidents on the property. Maybe someone else may have some photos to share of that incident.

Griswold, Jewett City, Lisbon,Voluntown and Taftville Firefighters work a house fire



A shot of the "D" side with R-455 in background

Community Lawn Mower Fire

June 13, 2006 - at 09:20hrs QV emergency communications dispatched the Community Fire Co. of Thompson to a lawn mower fire at 43 Buckley Hill Rd. Service-181 was broken in to it's first fire call. Upon Arrival of Service-181 under the command of Car-381 )James Seney) a handline was stretched and the fire was almost knocked down when the gas tank let go on the tractor intensifing the fire. A dry chemical extinguisher was used to control the Class "B" fire. Units went into service there after. Service-181 replaces Forestry 181. Service-181 is a 2006 Ford F-450 forestry/first response vehicle for Community Fire Co. This unit was placed into service on May 21,2006

Community Fire Co Service-181
Community Dep Chief Rocky Navarro (Car-181) and a Community Firefighter return the handline to service 181

Norwich Drowning 06/16/06

June 16, 2006 - A evening outing at the Yantic Falls turned tragic at around 18:00hrs when a Norwich man slip and fell in the water. At 18:05hrs Norwich's Eng-3, Truck-1, Service-1 w/Boat were dispatched for a drowning at the Yantic Falls off Yantic St. Squad-A was clearing an EMS run and Eng-2 were added to the assignment. Norwich Eng-3 arrived first at the upper falls to assess the situation. A male had fallen into the water and had gone under the water at the base of the upper falls. Norwich crews secured safety lines across the river and denied access to the river of rescue personnel due to rough currents in the river. The CSP dive team was dispatched to the scene and arrived at around 18:55hrs. 1 Victim was transported to Backus for evaluation of a unknown medical condition. At around 21:45hrs CSP divers recovered the victim and brought him to shore. Norwich's Eng-3 and Eng-2 with an American Ambulance

Norwich Police officer Kevin Wilber,Firefighter Mark Sicuzo and Capt Brad Keltonic

A Norwich Firefighter throws a safety line across the river

Norwich Firefighters dressed out in cold water suits secure safety lines

Norwich - Car vs Fire Hydrant 06/13/06

June 13, 2006 - At around 12:15hrs Norwich's Squad-A was dispatched to IFO 140 Broad St for a car vs fire hydrant w/injuries. while enroute "the Squad" came across a car vs fire hydrant IAO 150 Washington St by Broad St. American transported the occupants BLS to Backus while the Squad check for hazards from the car. The fire hydrant was flowing water and Norwich public utilities were on scene to control the water.
Note: since Washington st is a highly traveled road by casino patrons, numerous times have 911 callers given the wrong location of incidents due to being unfamiliar with the area as most of us know!
Squad-A, NPD, and American work the congested scene on Washington St



Water flows freely from the broken fire hydrant

Squad-A crew attempt to open the hood to control the batteries

Plainfield Water Rescue 06/05/06

June 5, 2006 - The Atwood Hose Fire company in the Wauregan section of Plainfield was dispacthed for a water rescue on the quinebaug river at around 14:30hrs. 1 victim had walked out of the woods to summon help while another victim was still in the water traveling down the river towards Canterbury. The command post was established on Rt-205 at the bridge. Rescue boats were launched at the Quinebaug fish hatchery. The 2nd victim was able to get to shore and summon help near North Canterbury Road in Canterbury. Both victims refused treatment and all units were accounted for and went into service. Stations that responded were Atwood Hose, Moosup, Central Village,Plainfield, Mortlake, Oneco, Canterbury, South Dive Team, CSP-Troop D, and many other department who were cancelled enroute

Canterbury Firefighters stretches rescue rope across the river Connecticut State Police Air-7 searches the river for the victim
Canterbury Rescue-593 stands by at at the park by the river

The stretch of river is from RT-205 to RT-14

Colchester Live Burn 06/04/06

June 4, 2006 - Tha Taftville and Canterbury fire departments conducted a joint live fire training drill at a burn house in Colchester. Taftville and Canterbury firefighters sharpened their skills on fire suppression, search & rescue, thermal imaging techniques, an other fireifgting skills. On behalf of both the Taftville and Canterbury fire departments we would like to thank Colchester for their time and energy it took to let us conduct this live fire training opportunity.

Overview of the training grounds Canterbury's crew enters building

Canterbury Fire Chief Pulls Hose Taftville crew enters the building

The Taftville Crew The Canterbury Crew

Lisbon Car Fire in Unattached Garage

May 18, 2006 - At around 08:15hrs Quinebaug Valley 911 dispatched full assignments for Lisbon, Taftville and Jewett City FAST to 38 Club House Rd for a vehicle fire in an unattached garage. Lisbon Dep Chief Car-154 arrived with Taftville's ET-21 to find an active fire in the engine compartment of a car. A 1 3/4 handline was stretched and the fire was contained to the car and no extension to the garage. Only smoke and heat damage to the garage. Car-154,ET-21, Service-154 and Rescue-554 held the scene while the rest of the assignment went in service. The Lisbon FMO is investigation.

Special Thanks to Tom Jencks (MPO) for taking the shots and pumping the engine.
Taftville's crew prepares to place the line on the fire



Firefighters attempt to gain access to the engine compartment

Shea's Lane Car Fire

April 23, 2006 - At around 22:30hrs, Taftville Fire was dispatched to a vehicle fire at the corner of Sheas Ln and Merchants Ave. First arriving firefighters kept the fire in check with extinguishers until ET-21 arrived and put a line on the fire. The fire was extinguished with a 1 3/4 landline. The Norwich FMO is investigating. Units that responded were Car-129 (OIC), ET-21 and Rescue 2.
(L to R) Firefighters Eric Benoit and Tom Ladd back up while 21's crew stretches the line
ET-21's crew (Firefighters Billy Hadam and Ryan Boulanger) attempt to gain access to the engine compartment

11 Grove Place - Norwich 2nd Alarm

April 22, 2006 - At around 20:42 hrs Norwich Fire received one 911 cell call reporting a structure fire at 11 Grove Pl. Norwich's Platoon 2 was dispatched and arrived to find a working fire in a vacant 2 1/2 stry wd. Squad Ax (Captain Kuraz) took command while Squad A, Eng-2,Eng-3 and Tower 1 worked the fire in a defensive manner. Norwich Chief Car-1 ( Chief Scand)arrived an assumed command from Squad A x and Norwich Car 10 (Dep. Chief Casey) had operations. Additional assignments from the Mohegan Tribal FAST Special Ops 1, Taftville ET-21,ET-22,and Tower-25 for a water supply and East Great Plains Eng-52 and Ladder 5 for city coverage. While enroute an evacuation order was announced due to the immediate collapse of the structure from the fire. The fire was contained to the building of origin with no firefighter or civilian injuries. Crews started to go into service around 23:30hrs. The Norwich FMO is investigating the cause. The total firefighters on scene, 29 (Norwich 14 Firefighters, Taftville 12 firefighters and Mohegan Tribal 3 firefighters)

Note: I arrived on ET-21 an laid a 5in line to Eng-2. I was unable to obtain earlier photos. To see some good earlier shots click the link to NLC Fire Photos on the right side.

Norwich Eng-2, Tower-1 and Squad A use master stream on the building
Norwich Eng-2 use their deck gun on the "A/B" corner
Norwich Eng-3 Lt Greg Despathy and FF Mike Dolan work a handline on Side "C"
Taftville Dep Chief Mark Gilot, Captain Tim Jencks, and FF Andrea Rizzuto ( Not seen) work a 1 3/4 handline on side "B"

Quaker Hill House Fire

April 15,2006 - At around 17:30hrs Waterford 911 received a 911 call reporting a fire in a laundry room at 603 Mohegan Ave (a.k.a Rt-32). Initial response was Quaker Hill,Cohanzie, and W-94. A fire officer at the scene reported a working fire and the Montville Fire Dept and Mohegan Tribal FAST was added to the assignment. W-25 arrived and stretched a line in the front door and stop the fire was extending to the rest of the structure. Good hoseline placement was key in stopping this fire. A excellant job by first arriving crews. Smoke and heat damage was evident thru-out the structure. No one was hurt and units went into service within 45 minutes.

Red Flag Warning Brings Brush Fires

March 31, 2006 - With a red flag warning for most of CT, conditions were ripe for this brush fire to start in Taftville along Rt 12 behind Taft Station. Crews arrived to find a active fire along the railroad tracks, One 1 3/4 hoseline with a forestry gate and two forestry lines were used to knock down and extinguish the fire. One civilian was treated by Taftville and American personnnel for a medical condition that occurred while attempting to fight the fire prior to Taftville's arrival. This was the third time Taftville FD was at this location for a brush fire in the past two weeks


Taftville's ET-21 and ET-22 with Drivers (L to R) David Plante and Dan Auger