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

CL&P Transformer Explosion/Brush Fire - Preston

March 28, 2006 - At around 16:00hrs a transformer explosion occurred at the CL&P plant on the banks of the Quinebaug River. This explosion sparked a large brush fire that sent Preston City, Poqutonuck, and City of Norwich Units to the scene. It was unclear at the time whether the stations were still charged with electricity. Crews waited for CL&P representative to arrive to secure power before extinguishing the fire. Fire crews from Lisbon, Franklin, Griswold, and Jewett City were responding to numerous fire alarms since the power was out in the area. Taftville and Lisbon were both dispatched to Rt 12 for a brush fire but upon investigation it was determined the smoke was from the Preston fire.

Taftville Auto Accidents

March 6, 2006 - While this day most of the region's Fire Dept's had their share of MVA's, Taftville had it's hsare of auto accidents as well.
The first picture is from a car vs 2 telephone poles on Norwich Ave. The call happened around 02:30hrs and 1 person was trsnported with mnor injuries. TFD remains on the scene for Norwich Public Utilities due to a live primary wire down.
The second accident happened around 13:00hrs. A white mustang pulling out of the Three Rivers college rear lot was almost hit by another car, the driver attempted to to get out of the way but "gunning it" which made the car spin out of control and hit a rock wall, flipping the car on to it's roof. 1 Pt was transported by AASI BLS

52 South Rd - Bozrah

March 2,2006 - At around 08:30hrs the Bozrah FD with mutual aid from Gardner Lake,East Great Plains,Yantic, Oakdale,Mohegan Tribal, Colchester and Mohegan FD's for a structure fire at 52 South Rd. Units arrived to find heavy fire on the "A" side of a residential dwelling. Due to Exploding ammunition a defensive attack was started. It was reported over 400 guns were in the house at the time of the fire. It was also reported the owner left ashes from a wood stove near the front porch which may have started the fire

Bozrah firefighters throw ground ladders against the building

Mohegan Tribal firefighter Dwayne Schramm clears a window out
Mohegan Tribal FF Keith Gomes uses a handline into the back door
Fire races across the roof as firefighters attempt to get into position

Bozrah and Yantic firefighters use ground ladders to attack the fire
Yantic Firefighter Bob Ladd and an unidentified FF prepare to use a handline
Yantic Asst. Chief Paul O'Connell used a handline on an interior wall

118 Furnace St - Danielson

Feb 16, 2006 - QV Dispatch received numerous 911 calls for a structure fire at the corner of Furnace St and Prince St in the borough. Danielson FD with assistance from East Brooklyn, Dayville,Williamsville FAST, and additional tankers from Mortlake and South Killingly. Danielson Units arrived to find heavy fire on side "A" on the 2nd and 3rd floors. A 2 1/2 line was placed into service while crews from Tower 161 laddered the roof to vent. Crews were able to stop the fire from reaching the backside of the building. No firefighters or civilians were injuried. Killingly FM Ray Allen is investigating the cause. Crystal Water had their water tanks to only 40% capacity so Danielson command requested additional tankers

East Brooklyn Firefighters work a handline on the "A" side

Crew from T-161 vent the roof

Danielson Et-161 and Tower 161 on Prince St

Bozrah Chimney Fire w/extension

Feb 10, 2006 - At around 15:30hrs the Bozrah Fire Dept. with mutual aid from Franklin and Yantic responded to 116 Stockhouse Rd for a Chimney fire with extension. Bozrah Dep Chief Car-126 arrived to find light smoke from the attic area. A fire had started in the chimney and extended into the wall. Crews opened up walls and the roof to contain the fire.

Light Smoke emits from the attic area
Firefighters prepare to open the roof
Smoke emits from the vent hole
Mohegan Tribal FD FAST team stands by on the "A" side

Occum Trailer Fire

Feb 6, 2006 - The Occum FD was dispatched to smoke in the Trailer at 252 Old Canturbury Turnpike. Upon their arrival a light smoke condition and odor of something burning was found. Command requested ET-21 for the TIC. Upon investigating, a small smouldering fire was discoverd under the trailer in the insulation. Crews worked to remove the insulation and check for extension. Heating tape is believe to be the cause of the fire

Occum Firefighters remove insulation from Trailer

Occum Firefighters Check for extension
(L to R) Taftville ET-21, Occum E-41 and Occum ET-42
Taftville Engineer Todd Milhomme and Asst Chief Paul Lebrecque