While returning from one call, Sandy Hook VFR firefighters found themselves not only first on the scene of another but also taking care of reporting it to dispatch mid-Sunday afternoon. Just a few hours after finishing their first training in months, and having already responded to three calls after that, Sandy Hook alerted dispatch at 14:49 to a one-vehicle accident in the area of 186 Berkshire Road. The driver of a Ford Explorer traveling west on the state road appeared to swerve in ...

Two fire companies, Newtown Ambulance and Newtown Police officers were all dispatched to Wasserman Road Saturday afternoon after a paramedic reported a serious accident while en route to a different call.Newtown Hook & Ladder was initially dispatched at 16:58 to Wasserman Way near Nunnawauk Road after the medic found a male on the road who was unresponsive after the motorcycle he was operating crashed.Sandy Hook was dispatched at 16:59 once it was determined that the call was within the comp...

Multiple Brush Fires During Very Dry Conditions (Tuesday-Saturday, June 23-27, 2020)Sandy Hook VFR responded to multiple brush fires between June 23 and June 26, including a large one in Southbury.The first calls came on Tuesday, June 23, at 12:59, when Sandy Hook and Newtown Hook & Ladder were dispatched to the area of I-84 East near the Exit 11 ramps for a reported fire. Within minutes dispatch updated firefighters that callers were reporting three separate areas with small fires.Air ...

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, an on-call paramedic, and CT State Police were dispatched on Sunday at 20:20 for a vehicle that had gone off the road following a reported deer strike. The accident was reported on I-84 West near Exit 11. It was initially unclear which side of the highway the collision had occurred, but dispatch reported multiple calls from the area. Second Assistant Chief Andy Ryan was first on the scene. He reported a vehicle down an embankment,...

A quick-moving fire destroyed a shed but not a nearby home. Four of Newtown's fire companies were dispatched at 09:45 Friday on a report of a house that was fully engulfed in flames in Sandy Hook's district. Calls to dispatch said no one was expected in the home, located on Pootatuck Trail.As firefighters were responding, the report was updated that the burning structure was a fully involved shed.Sandy Hook Quint 440, Tanker 9, Tanker 449 and Engine 441 responded with crew...

Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Hook & Ladder were dispatched at 6:49 am to I-84 West between Exits 10 and 9 for a reported fully involved car fire. CT State Troopers, who reported the fire, initially indicated wires were close to the vehicle, which was also reported to be near the Parmalee Hill Road overpass. Sandy Hook Engine 441 responded with a crew, as did Hook & Ladder Engine 111. Firefighters found the vehicle as reported upon arrival, although there were no wi...

A section of Toddy Hill Road was closed to through-traffic for 2½ hours Tuesday after a fire started by electrical wires created a hazard.Sandy Hook VFR was dispatched at 09:58 to the area of 64 Toddy Hill Road for a reported tree on fire. As they were responding, firefighters were updated by dispatch that a police officer working in the area found the fire. The police officer reported insulation off wires had ignited a tree and utility pole. Chief Halstead responded to the scene, an...

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance and a paramedic were dispatched at 13:30 to the area of 217 Berkshire Road. Captain Rob Sibley was first on the scene and reported a collision between two vehicles, just west of Berkshire's intersection with Paugussett Road, with one male party on the ground. A debris field spread from Paugussett to the intersection of Berkshire and its western intersection with Chestnut Hill Road.Rescue 444 and Engine 441 responded from the main station with ...

For the second time in less than 48 hours, all five of Newtown’s fire companies were toned out for a fully involved structure fire.Calls to dispatch reported black smoke and fire from a house, which is exactly what the first firefighter confirmed when he arrived at the scene late Friday afternoon. The April 24 fire was reportedly fully involved in the garage, and spreading toward the full 2½-story structure.The fire followed an overnight fire April 22-23, also in Sandy Hook, that de...

All five of Newtown’s fire companies were dispatched at 23:38 Wednesday to a reported structure fire on Riverside Road. Dispatch reported all parties were out of the structure.SHVFR Chief Bill Halstead was on the scene within minutes and confirmed the fire as well involved. The male occupant of that dwelling was safely out, Chief Halstead also confirmed.Firefighters were also challenged with saving a second home located approximately 30 feet south of the burning building. The three residen...

Sandy Hook VFR responded to 15 calls on April 13, with the majority being related to a strong wind-rain storm that covered the region for approximately 18 hours. The company's day began at 8:18 with a commercial fire alarm in Hook & Ladder's district. A few hours later, however, multiple calls began rolling in for trees and/or wires down within the district due to the storm. At 11:29, SHVFR was dispatched to Paugussett Road, where a tree had pulled wires down. As ...

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic and Newtown Police were dispatched at 18:08 to the area of Berkshire Road (Route 34) between its intersections with Sherman Street and Zoar Road for a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries. First responders were told that a car and tractor-trailer truck had collided.Firefighter Pete Barresi was first on the scene, and reported the scene was as described. An 18-wheeler that had been traveling east and a compact car, a Toy...

Sandy Hook VFR, along with Newtown Ambulance, Hawleyville Fire, Hook & Ladder Fire and a paramedic all responded to I-84 East prior to Exit 10 for a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries just prior to 2 pm Wednesday afternoon.First responders were told that a vehicle that had been traveling on the highway had gone off the west shoulder of the road and into the woods.The driver, a 69-year-old male from out of the area, was pronounced dead at the scene.Firefighters extricated the body ...

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a paramedic were dispatched at 22:38 to the area of 93 Berkshire Road following a report of a vehicle rollover, with possible extrication needed.SHVFR Second Assistant Chief Andy Ryan was first on the scene and reported the scene as described. A 2004 Toyota Avalon that had been traveling in light rain fishtailed while going around a curve, struck an embankment on the right road shoulder, and rolled onto its roof. The vehicle came to rest...

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a paramedic all responded to 98 Berkshire Road at 12:08 Sunday afternoon for a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries. First responders were told that a vehicle had gone off the roadway and the male driver was unconscious.An RN on the scene reported to dispatch that she was unable to find a pulse of the driver, a 73-year-old male. A police officer on the scene then reported the driver was unconscious, but had a pulse.Rescue 444 and Eng...

Sandy Hook VFR responded to the area of 100 Wasserman Way at 09:43 Thursday morning, after a vehicle had reportedly gone into the swamp area along the southern side of the roadway. A Kia Forte that had been traveling east failed to negotiate a curve on the wet roadway. The vehicle jumped the curb, and then traveled approximately 150 feet into the swamp.The driver was able to self-extricate. No injuries were reported by the elderly female who had been driving. Rescue 444 responded with a cre...

Sandy Hook VFR was dispatched at shortly after 11 am on February to a condo on Louis Hill Road, after a vehicle reportedly drive into the home. No injuries were reported to the driver, an 82-year-old female who reportedly hit the gas instead of the brakes. Upon arrival, Second Assistant Chief Andy Ryan requested a representative from the Town Building Department, due to the amount of damage to the garage. The vehicle, a 2014 Toyota Camry, had driven into the door and one of t...

Sandy Hook VFR was dispatched to 76 Church Hill Road at 00:22 Saturday after a caller contacted dispatch to report she thought her home was collapsing.A second call to dispatch reported a pick-up truck had driven through the northwest corner of the home. Two people who had been inside the home were able to leave the building without injury.A 20-year-old male had been traveling west on Church Hill Road, operating a Ford F-350, when he lost control of the vehicle and struck the home. The truck con...

Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were dispatched at 08:57 Sunday morning to respond to the area of 13 Lakeview Terrace, where the driver of a vehicle was reporting chest and arm pain following a motor vehicle accident.First Assistant Chief Ryan Clark and Second Assistant Chief Andy Ryan were first to the scene, and reported a 2004 Ford Econoline van had crossed the roadway and gone down an embankment, stopping in a ditch. The vehicle landed about 10 feet off the roadway....

Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a paramedic were dispatched at 20:46 Thursday evening after a caller to dispatch reported seeing a vehicle go off the road in the area of 229 Berkshire Road, opposite Liberty Drive. The caller thought the driver of the pick-up that went over a guardrail and down an embankment was still in the vehicle and needed extrication.Newtown Police arrived on the scene at 20:45 and reported the vehicle, a2004 Dodge Ram 1500, was empty. Police believed t...