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OFFICIALS URGE HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
August 30 2010....
with Hurricane Earl threatening to impact the North East Coast
within the next few days, Westport Emergency Management officials
are making last minute preparations to try to minimize the effect on
local residents as much as possible. As a National Weather
Service-designated “StormReady” community, Westport today began
regular weather briefings with weather forecasters on the progress
of Hurricane Earl and other developing storms. Also, all town
departments involved in emergency preparedness-related tasks were
reviewing their plans and staffing schedules for the end of the
week. Residents may download a
preparedness guide provided by NOAA by clicking
here.
CAR INTO THE SAUGATUCK RIVER
August 23 2010....
At 8:19 AM today, the Westport Fire Department responded to a
reported car into the Saugatuck River on Imperial Ave. Westport PD
were first on scene and reported the driver was out of the vehicle.
Firefighters checked the driver for injuries, while evaluating the
scene. The car had slid off the roadway at a curve and ended upright
a few feet into the river.
Westport
EMS
evaluated the driver and she refused transport to the hospital. The
vehicle did not leak fuel or other liquids into the river.
Firefighters had to cut a tree that was blocking the car’s removal.
The car was removed from the river by a local towing service. The
last fire department vehicle left the scene at 9:00 AM. The cause of the accident is
being investigated by
Westport
PD.

ELECTRICAL FIRE
August 20 2010....
at 1:04 PM
today, the Westport
Fire Department responded to a reported fire in a wall outlet at 285
Greens Farms Rd. Arriving
firefighters were met by the homeowner and directed to a bedroom
where the fire had started. The homeowner stated that flames were
coming from the outlet and she went to the electrical panel and
turned off the circuit breaker for that room and then called the
fire department. Firefighters checked the wall for extension of the
fire and found that it was limited to the outlet and the edge of a
mattress that was against the wall. The mattress was removed from
the room. An inspector from the
Westport
Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the incident to determine the
cause of the fire. The last Westport Fire Department unit left the
scene at 1:36 PM.

TRACTOR TRAILER STRIKES BRIDGE ON MERRITT
PARKWAY
August 17 2010....
at 11:48am a tractor
trailer mistakenly got on the
Merritt Parkway
at exit 42 and proceeded north bound striking the North Ave overpass. The truck was carrying
30,000 pounds of food-grade flour headed
for
Rhode Island.
The Westport Fire Department assisted
the salvage contractor in removing the flour from the trailer by
cutting a hole in the side of the trailer.
The flour that was removed was
inspected by a Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Inspector who determined which flour sacks could be transported and
which had to be discarded.
State Police had to shut down the
roadway for a while so the contractor could bring equipment up to
the scene by going the wrong way from
Fairfield.
Fire Department personnel remained on
scene for almost 6 hours to assist the contractor and State Police
to safely bring the situation to an end.


TWO CAR MVA ON WILTON ROAD
August 15 2010.... at 7:52 AM today,
the Westport Fire Department responded to a multi-vehicle accident
at the intersection of Kings Hwy North and Wilton Rd. Westport
Firefighters checked both drivers for injuries and secured the
scene, putting down speedi dri to absorb fluids and disconnecting
the batteries to prevent electrical problems. Both drivers were
turned over to Westport
EMS for
further evaluation and they refused transport to the hospital. Both
cars had heavily damaged front ends and had to be towed from the
scene. Westport PD is in charge of the investigation
and diverted traffic from the area for the duration of the
evaluation and cleanup. The last
Westport
Fire Department unit left the scene at
8:34 AM .

ROLLOVER ON I95 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 18
August
15 2010.... at 5:48 this morning the Westport Fire Department
responded to the report of a roll over on Interstate 95 that ended
up approximately 1 mile north of exit 18.
There was 1 victim with minor injuries
who was able to crawl out of the over turned car prior to the first
unit on scene.
Westport EMS
treated and transported the victim to the hospital.

SMOKE IN TWO BUILDINGS ON MAIN STREET
July 14 2010....
at 5:14 PM
today, the Westport
Fire Department received a call reporting smoke in the basements of
Eileen Fisher’s Clothing and Achorn Pharmacy. Firefighters responded
with four engines, a rescue truck and the shift commander’s vehicle.
Firefighters combed through both stores to find the source of the
smoke and odor. After a process of elimination, it was determined
that the source of the problem was a faulty portable air
conditioning unit in the basement of Eileen Fisher Clothing.
Firefighters disconnected the unit and ventilated both stores to
remove the odor. Main
St.
was reduced to one lane of traffic in that area by Westport PD for the duration of the call. The
last fire department unit left the scene at 6:33 PM .
EXTRICATION I95 NB AT EXIT 17 - SEVEN
PATIENTS
July 10 2010....
at
10:30
this evening the Westport
Fire Department, Westport
Police, Westport
and Norwalk
EMS
responded to a report of a vehicle over the guard rail on I-95
Northbound at exit 17. An engine from the Saugatuck Station and a
rescue and Shift Commanders vehicle from Fire Headquarters
responded.
Westport
Police units arrived on scene and reported that the driver of the
vehicle was trapped and needed extrication. The
Norwalk
Fire Department was then requested to assist and responded with and
engine, rescue and their Shift Commanders vehicle. Upon our arrival,
further investigation found that this was a two vehicle accident
with one vehicle, a Mitsubishi Lancer on top of the guard rail and
another vehicle, a Lexus RX 350 SUV on its side against a tree 50
feet off the highway. Firefighters from both fire departments worked
together to gain access to the vehicle through a hole cut in a fence
on Hiawatha lane,
cutting
the roof off of the Lexus SUV, and removing the driver onto a stokes
basket. The driver was then placed on a stretcher and taken to
Norwalk Hospital along with another occupant that was out of the
vehicle upon arrival, by Norwalk EMS. The extent of her injuries was unknown. The
other 5 injured occupants of the Mitsubishi were transported to
Norwalk
Hospital by Westport EMS with minor injuries. The wooded
area at the crash site was checked with thermal imaging cameras for
any other victims and the car on the guard rail was secured and made
safe. The Westport
Fire units stayed on scene by request of State Police for lighting
purposes during their investigation.
The vehicles were
removed by Riverside
Service
Center
and the last Fire Department unit cleared the scene at
12:53 AM.

HAZARDOUS CONDITION AT CORPORATE CENTER
July 8 2010.... at 12:38 PM the Westport Fire Department received
a call from the property manager at the
Westport
Corporate
Center
at 8 Wright St to
assist with a section of the structure that was hanging from the
building.
The Shift Commander and Truck Company 1
responded and found a large section of the exterior ceiling assembly
hanging by one side precariously over the building at 1 Wilton Rd.
A
Westport
Building
official responded and estimated the weight of the piece to be
approximately 500 pounds.
That prompted the immediate evacuation
of the building below and the adjacent parking lots.
Rescue Company 3 was requested to the
scene to protect the building’s gas meter and piping that was
directly below the hanging ceiling piece that the building official
referred to as “hanging by glue and tape”.
They worked directly below placing wood
timbers to deflect the potential collapse from severing the high
flow gas line.
The property manager was able to secure
a high-lift construction aerial and work crew to come out remove the
hanging ceiling member.
Fire Department crews stood by as they
cut the hanging ceiling member into smaller pieces and brought it
down safely.
The last Fire Department units cleared
the scene at 7:45 PM.

STRUCTURE FIRE - TWO TRAILER PARK UNITS
ABLAZE
July 7 2010.... at
approximately 9:55 pm the
Westport
Fire department responded to a structure fire at 1655 Post Road
East, the Sasco Creek Village trailer park,
units # 86 and # 88. Upon arrival the rear portions of both units,
which were attached, were both heavily involved in fire. Unit # 86
suffered severe damage and was deemed uninhabitable. Unit # 88
suffered moderate
damage to the attic and roof.
Unit # 14 had vinyl siding melted due
to the proximity to the burning
buildings.
Members of Truck 1 escorted the occupant of Unit # 88 out of the
dwelling. The
resident
of Unit # 86 got out on his own. Fire suppression was initially
slowed down because of a large quantity of fire works exploding
inside the residence. A quantity of propane cylinders in proximity
to the fire also had to be moved away from the
fire.
Fairfield
Fire Department responded directly to the scene to assist as Rapid
Intervention Team. Wilton Fire Department provided an Engine
company to cover
Westport
Fire Headquarters and to respond to any other incidents. The Westport Fire
Department responded with four engines, one
ladder truck and one Command Car. The last Fire Department left the
incident at 0130 hours. A fire watch of one Engine was then
detailed to the scene. Two
Fire Fighters were slightly injured during the fire and were
transported to Norwalk
Hospital
for further evaluation.

MUTUAL AID TO BRIDGEPORT........SECOND
TIME IN 12 DAYS
July 6 2010....
at
8:53 am
the Westport
Fire Department received a call for mutual aid to the City of Bridgeport. This was the second time within a
twelve day period that Westport had been asked by the city to
assist. Bridgeport Firefighters were on scene of a warehouse fire in
the west end of the city, tying up all Bridgeport Fire units. Westport sent Truck 1 with
four firefighters and Engine 2 with three firefighters to provide
coverage for the Bridgeport
Fire Department. During the time of the coverage, both Westport
units along with units from Milford, Fairfield and Trumbull
responded to a high rise fire on the 10th floor of the
Embassy Towers on Park Ave.
Firefighters had to deal with the sweltering
heat of the day as well as the fire. All responders had to climb the
ten floors with all their equipment to extinguish the blaze and
evacuate all of the two hundred forty residents of the building. A
Bridgeport Battalion Chief was the only Bridgeport Fire Department
unit on that scene. Deputy Chief Jonathan Gottfried and Assistant
Chief Andrew Kingsbury of the
Westport
Fire Department also responded to
Bridgeport
with the Westport
units to assist with the coverage. Deputy Chief Gottfried said
“Mutual aid units from the various communities worked well together
under extreme weather conditions and a difficult fire.”
Additional Westport firefighters were hired back to fully
staff Westport
units in town for the duration of the mutual aid coverage.
Truck 1 returned to Westport at 12:45 pm and Engine 2 provided coverage for Bridgeport Fire
Headquarters until 4:00 pm.

above photos published with permission from
firegroundimages.com
VW MICRO VAN CATCHES FIRE
July 2 2010....
at
6:06 pm the
Westport
Fire Department and Westport Police Department responded to a
reported van on fire at the intersection of
Post Road West ( Rte. 1) and Kings
Highway South. Upon arrival, police reported that the van was “fully
involved” in fire and they shut the road down to traffic. The driver
of the van was able to save only a few items from the interior of
the van before being driven back by heat from the fire that he
reported started in the rear engine compartment. Engine 4 from the
Saugatuck Station arrived on scene and stretched an 1 ½” hose line
and started attacking the fire. Due to the engine block constructed
of magnesium, a combustible metal, foam was also utilized as well as
several dry chemical extinguishers.
Engine 2 from Fire
Headquarters arrived to assist as Engine 4 was running out of water.
They used water from their tank to continue to extinguish the van
and it’s contents.
A total of 1,000 gallons of water was
used to extinguish this difficult fire.
The
Volkswagen “micro bus” of early 1970’s era was a total loss as was
the majority of the contents.
Crews remained on scene
to overhaul any remaining fire and await the removal of the van by
flatbed wrecker. The last fire department unit cleared at
7: 18 PM.

EF1 TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN IN CITY OF
BRIDGEPORT
WESTPORT RESPONDS MUTUAL AID
June 24 2010.... at
approximately 2:00pm on Thursday afternoon severe weather entered
the Fairfield County area. At 2:15pm a tornado warning was
issued by the NWS for this area. At approx 2:50pm reports started
coming in for severe damage in the City of Bridgeport including
multiple collapsed structures. The State Urban Search & Rescue Team,
including two members of the Westport Fire Department, was activated
by the Governor's office and responded to a staging area at a
firehouse in Bridgeport. At approx 3:00 pm Westport Fire
Department was asked to assist Bridgeport with the catastrophic
effects of the storm. Rescue Company
3 and Engine Company 2 responded from headquarters. When Westport units arrived in Bridgeport they immediately went to work
responding to numerous calls for structural damage, power lines
down, and a structure fire. At
one point the Rescue and Engine had to assist in evacuating a 7
story apartment for seniors that was feared would collapse.
At 10:00 pm Bridgeport Police Department requested
the Terex Light tower that is co-owned by the Westport Police and
Fire Departments to assist in their night time operations.
This is yet another example of communities coming together
with resources in a time of crisis.


MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON I95
June 20 2010.... at
approximately 3.33pm the
Westport
Fire Department responded to a multi vehicle accident on I 95
northbound, between exits 18 & 19. Arriving firefighters found a
three car accident with a towed U haul on its’ side in the middle
lane. All occupants were out of the vehicles upon arrival. Fire
trucks blocked the left and center lanes to protect the scene.
Firefighters evaluated all occupants for injuries. Westport EMS arrived
on scene and all occupants refused transport to Norwalk Hospital.
There was debris and spilled fluids from the three vehicles on the
roadway, which firefighters cleaned up. State police limited traffic
to the right lane for about thirty minutes until the center lane
could be cleared. All vehicles were towed from the scene. CT State
Police investigated the cause of the incident. The last fire
department unit left the scene at 4:21 PM.

CAR FIRE ON I95 SAUGATUCK BRIDGE
June 19 2010....
The Westport Fire Department responded to a car
fire on I 95 with two engines Saturday morning. The first arriving
unit closed the right-hand lane verified the car was evacuated and
began extinguishment. The vehicle was quickly extinguished and the
driver escaped without injury. One lane of the highway remained
closed for 45 minutes awaiting a tow truck. The last units cleared
the highway at 10:05 AM.
WOMAN TRAPPED UNDER STAIR LIFT CHAIR
Ju
ne 17 2010.... At
1:09 PM
today, the Westport
Fire Department responded to a report of a woman trapped under a
stair lift chair in her home. Arriving firefighters were directed to
the second floor where the homeowner had her foot trapped under her
medical lift chair. Firefighters quickly immobilized the chair to
prevent further injury and went to work to extricate her from under
the lift. She was freed from the lift within ten minutes.
Firefighters checked her for injury and turned her over to Westport
EMS for
transport to
Norwalk
Hospital.
The woman had been attempting to use the lift to get down the stairs
when she slipped, pinning her left leg and foot under the chair.
Firefighters utilized the skills they
had
learned in
a Machinery Rescue Course the entire department took within the last
two years. The last Fire Department unit left the scene at
1:48 PM .
3 HOUR EXTRICATION OF TRUCK DRIVER
June 5 2010....
At 5:27 this morning the Norwalk Fire Department
requested assistance from the Westport Fire Department with a
tractor trailer on its side with the driver heavily trapped in the
cab of the truck.
The tandem tractor trailer was on its
side up against a large tree and the only contact with the driver
was by his elbow.
Norwalk Rescue Company 2 went to work
on the under side of the truck while Westport Rescue Company 3 was
assigned to gain access to the driver on the side by the tree.
Both companies worked in concert for 3
hours to untangle the driver using almost every available tool from
both Rescue trucks.
As metal was cut and pushed from the
driver, Norwalk Paramedics were able to crawl into the cab and start
medical treatment of the injured driver.
Heavy truck wreckers were called to the
scene to assist in stabilizing and lifting the truck to better gain
access to the driver.
All the time the rescuers were working
with diesel fuel leaking from one of the ruptured tanks creating a
fire hazard throughout the incident.
Norwalk Paramedics remained in contact
with the trauma surgeon at
Norwalk
Hospital
coordinating the pre-hospital medical treatment of the driver.
At
8:47
the driver was successfully removed from the vehicle and transported
to Norwalk
Hospital
where his condition is unknown at this time.
Westport Fire Department personnel
cleared the scene at 9:42
AM.
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STRUCTURE FIRE ON RICES LANE - TWO
LIGHTNING STRIKES
June 3 2010....
Quick thinking
actions from the occupant and workers at
15 Rices Lane this afternoon averted
disaster.
During a sever thunderstorm that passed
through Westport,
lightning struck a tree at the back of the house and followed a
near-by propane line into the house and started a fire.
A babysitter was in the house with
small children and smelled smoke coming from the basement and
decided to get everyone out of the house as she called the Fire
Department.
Meanwhile a worker who heard the loud
bang and saw smoke coming from the basement immediately shut off the
propane tank denying the fire of additional fuel.
When Fire Department personnel arrived
they found a moderate smoke condition on the first floor and all
occupants accounted for on the front lawn.
All remaining Engine companies in town
were then requested to the scene as well as Fairfield Fire to cover
the empty fire house.
The first-in Engine Company stretched a
hose line to the basement to attack the fire which was so full of
smoke they had to use thermal imaging cameras to find the flames.
The Truck Company was ventilating the
house when they noticed that flames were coming through the floor
from the basement so help was then called from Wilton Fire
Department who sent an Engine Company to the scene.
When
Fairfield Fire Department arrived at Fire Headquarters they were
immediately put to work responding to a back log of other calls for
help in town.
Automatic Fire alarms sounded and
another house was also struck by lightening but with limited damage
to the structure.
The Wilton Fire Engine on the scene was
cut loose to assist
Fairfield
with the call volume.
The Fire at 15 Rices Lane was
extinguished with some structural damage to the basement and first
floor with smoke damage throughout the house.
The Fire Marshal determined, along with
the Building Official, that the house could remain inhabitable for
the occupants.
Fire personnel cleared the scene at
5:26 PM.

JACKNIFED "HEINEKEN" TRACTOR TRAILER
June 1 2010.... At
6:09 PM
tonight, a tractor trailer jack knifed on I 95 on the
Saugatuck
River
Bridge.
The driver escaped serious injury but was evaluated by Westport Firefighters and Westport
EMS
on the scene before being transported to
Norwalk
Hospital
for further treatment. The driver of the vehicle claimed he was cut
off and swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle when he lost
control of the truck and hit the bridge wall. The tractor was
heavily damaged and oil and diesel fuel leaked from the vehicle.
Prior to the arrival of the Fire Department, several gallons of that
spill leaked into the storm drains and into the Saugatuck
River and
the parking lot below the bridge. Upon arrival, Firefighters used
speedi dri and absorbent booms and pads to prevent any further
runoff of fluids into the storm drains. The Department of
Enviromental Protection and the Coast Guard were notified of the
spill. Firefighters slowed the flow of leaking fluids from the motor
and contained the spill. Two agents from the DEP responded to the
scene to facilitate the cleanup process.
Connecticut
Tank Removal was hired to conduct the cleanup. State DOT trucks were
called to the scene to put sand on the roadway to further protect
the road surface from becoming slippery from the spill. The truck
was towed from the scene. The last Fire Department unit cleared the
scene at 8:43 PM .

HOUSE FIRE OUT
June 1 2010....
At 12:53 AM
this morning the Westport Fire Department received a call for a
house fire at 100
Partrick Rd.
Four engines and ladder truck and the shift commander’s vehicle
responded and while en-route additional information received was
that the fire was out but the house was filled with smoke.
Firefighters checked the area that had
burned, a small desk area with shelves, and found charring from the
fire and a moderate smoke condition throughout the house.
Firefighters used fans to remove the smoke and thermal imaging
cameras to verify that the fire had been extinguished. The house was
under renovation at the time of the fire and was occupied. Early
warning of the fire by the sounding of smoke detectors in the home
and the use of a fire extinguisher kept this fire to a minimum.
Residents are reminded that smoke detectors safe lives and as this
fire was during the night while the occupants were asleep, the early
warning by a beeping smoke detector, the owner having a fire
extinguisher available and the knowledge on how to use it kept this
fire in check and damage to a minimum.
The fire is under investigation by the Fire
Marshal and the family was able to stay in the house after
firefighting activities were completed.
The last Fire Department vehicle left
the house at 2:04 AM.

MVA AT INTERSECTION
May 29
2010.... The Westport Fire Department, along with Police and
EMS, responded to the report of a 2
car motor vehicle accident with injuries at the intersection of
Post Road East
and Buckley Ave. North.
Upon arrival we found both cars with
significant front end damage and leaking fluids.
The passenger of the Volkswagen was
complaining of significant neck and back pain.
Engine Company 5 crew assisted EMS in packaging the patient for
transport while the Rescue Company used hand tools to force the car
door to facilitate removal of the patient.
Another occupant of the Volkswagen was
treated on the scene by Fire and EMS but
refused transport to the hospital.
The remaining occupants of both
vehicles denied treatment and transport to the hospital.
The leaking fluids were contained by
absorbent material and FD personnel remained on scene until both
cars were safely removed by wreckers.
Last FD unit cleared the scene at
7:50 pm.

TRASH FIRE
May 29 2010....
The Westport Fire Department received a call
of a trash fire at the rear of 578 Post Road East at 12:12 pm.
Because it was reported that the trash was up against a
building, 2 Engine Companies, the Truck Company, and Shift Command
Car were dispatched. The landlord for the building had come out to
help the tenant, Princess Jewelers with their closing sale when it
was noticed that smoke was coming from the top of a storage box at
the rear of the business.
The Fire Department was immediately dispatched and found a
small amount of rubbish that had been placed on top of the metal
storage box to be smoldering.
The Engine Company laddered the box and extinguished the fire
with a water extinguisher.
The Truck Company removed the trash from atop of the storage
box and determined that no damage to the building or the box itself.
The cause remains under investigation.
All units cleared the scene at
12:24 pm.

DUMPSTER FIRE
May 28 2010....
At
4:04 PM
today the Westport
Fire Department responded to a dumpster fire next to a house at # 10 Evergreen Ave.
The Westport
Police arrived first and reported a working dumpster fire next to
the house but no extension to the house itself. Engine 2 from
headquarters and Engine 6 from the Coleytown station responded along
with the Shift Commander’s vehicle and used 1000 gallons of water to
extinguish the fire. The house was checked and
no fire had extended to the structure. The house was unnoccupied at
the time of the fire and is undergoing major renovations.
The cause of the fire is undetermined
at this time.
Residents
and businesses are reminded that dumpsters should be placed well
away from the building during construction. Had this dumpster been
full at the time of the fire, extension into large picture window on
the second floor could have occurred making the situation far worse.

STRUCTURE FIRE
May 17 2010....
At approximately 3 PM
this afternoon the
Westport Fire
Department responded to a report of smoke in the building on Tamarac Road in Westport.
First arriving personnel found moderate
smoke issuing from the 1st and 2nd floors of
an expanded Cape Cod
style house.
The homeowner, whom had just arrived
home, advised Fire Personnel that the house was evacuated with the
exception of a cat still inside.
Fire department personnel quickly
located the source of the smoke, an incipient fire burning in the
kitchen, and extinguished it with an 1-1/2” hoseline.
Simultaneously Firefighters from the
Truck Company searched the building confirm all occupants were out
and located the cat in a 2nd floor bedroom, the cat was
unharmed. The fire, which started in a plastic garbage can, was
determined to be accidental in nature by the
Westport Fire
Marshal’s Office.
Residents are reminded to dispose of
oily rags properly, placing them outside in a metal garbage can or
allowing them to air dry outdoors before disposing.
Please read precautionary statements on
the product label or contact the Fire Department if any question
exists.
Additionally, the
Westport Fire
Department strongly urges all residents to have working smoke
detectors in their homes.
The
Westport Fire
Department responded to this incident with it’s entire on-duty
shift: 4 Engines, a Ladder Truck, and Shift Commander.
The last fire department unit cleared
the scene at 4:24 PM.

STRUCTURE FIRE
May 15 2010....
On Saturday May 15 at 6:24 PM
the Westport Fire Department
responded to a reported structure fire on Partrick Rd. in the area of Old Hill Rd.
Additional information gave an address of house #21. Four Engines a
Ladder truck and the Shift Commanders vehicle responded to the
initial call, with an additional ladder truck from Norwalk requested
to the scene as a Rapid Intervention Team and an Engine from
Fairfield to cover fire headquarters for any additional calls in
town.
Westport
Police arrived on scene first and the occupant reported to them that
everyone was out of the house.
Upon arrival a large volume of fire was
visible from the rear of the building and from the front picture
window. Firefighters laid a 5” supply line from a nearby hydrant and
stretched (2) 2.5 inch hose lines through the front door to
extinguish the fire. During the search on the second floor,
firefighters located the family dog that perished in the fire. A
total of twenty five firefighters from Westport and five from Norwalk were on scene. One
Westport
Firefighter was injured and transported to
Norwalk
Hospital
with minor injuries. The cause of the fire is undetermined and is
under investigation by the
Westport
Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from Westport Police Detectives at this time.
The last fire department unit left the scene at 11:30 PM.
More photos here

DUMPSTER FIRE
May
14 2010.... at approximately 1:49 am the
Westport Fire Department was alerted to a dumpster fire at
10 Moss Ledge Road after a neighbor
spotted flames at that location.
Greens Farms Engine Company 5 and the
Shift Commander initially responded and found a 30 yard dumpster on
fire.
Engine Company 2 from Headquarters was
requested to provide water and manpower to fight the fire.
An adjacent port-o-let was damaged from
the heat and flames.
The fire was quickly extinguished and
all units cleared the scene at 2:47 am.
The house is under construction at this
time and not occupied.
The dumpster was located away from the
structure under construction.
The Westport Fire Department would like to
remind homeowners and contractors to never place a dumpster next to
or inside a structure.
They should always be placed well away
from any structures or other exposures.
VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH CONSTRUCTION TRUCK
May 13 2010....
at approximately 3:16 this morningThe
Westport
and Norwalk
Fire Department responded to a single car accident
into the rear of a Signal Marking Inc construction truck. Work was
being conducted on I-95 North at the time of the accident. The lone
driver/ occupant of a Jeep Grand Cherokee
had to be
extricated from her car and transported to Norwalk
Hospital for
further treatment of non life
threatening injuries. The driver of the construction vehicle
who was in the truck at the time of the accident was also
transported to the hospital
for further evaluation.
Fire Fighters had to contain
approximately 10 to 15 gallons of diesel fuel
due to a broken fuel line in the construction vehicle while awaiting
arrival of a Department of Environmental Protection
Representative. Clean Harbor clean up contractors were then notified
to clean up the spill.
The last Fire Department vehicle cleared the
scene at 0505 hrs.

MVA WITH VEHICLE ON FIRE
May 13 2010....
at 10:16pm this evening the Westport Fire
Department received a report of a motor vehicle accident and car
fire on the Merritt Parkway north
bound between exit 42 and 44.
We responded with Coleytown Engine
Company 6, Headquarters Engine Company 2, Rescue Company 3, and the
Shift Command Car.
Fairfield Fire Rescue units arrived on
scene southbound at the Redding Road
overpass and found a 2 car accident with one car’s engine
compartment fully involved in fire.
They immediately stretched a hose line
across the median to attack the fire and treat the injured.
The Fairfield Shift Commander requested
an Engine Company from
Westport
for a water supply and canceled the remaining responding units.
The extent of injuries was not known at
this time as the injured were being treated by
AMR
ambulance on scene from
Fairfield.
All Westport Fire Department units
cleared the scene at
10:30pm.

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT INJURES WORKER
April 29 2010....Shortly
after 10 am this morning, the Westport Fire Department responded to a call for
medical assistance in the Saugatuck section of town.
Responding along with Westport Police
and EMS, Saugatuck Engine Company arrived at a construction site and
found an injured worker whom had been struck in the head with a 20’
long metal drilling pipe.
Co-workers had discovered the worker
lying in mud alongside a geo-thermal well drilling rig.
Firefighters along with Police and
EMS
administered care, packaged the patient, and
EMS
transported the worker to Norwalk Hospital Emergency Room.
Police and Fire officials remained on
the scene while OSHA conducted a routine investigation.
OSHA released the scene and last units
cleared at 12:16 pm
this afternoon.

PICKUP COLLIDES WITH TREE ON MERRITT PARKWAY
April 21 2010....
at approximately 4:34
this afternoon the Westport Fire Department and Westport EMS received a call for a motor vehicle
accident with injuries, a pick up truck vs. tree with driver
trapped.
Engine 6 from the Coleytown fire
station, Rescue 3 and the shift commander’s vehicle from Fire
Headquarters responded along with the
Fairfield
Fire Department and AMR
ambulance service to the scene. Upon arrival just south of the
Merwin’s Lane overpass, the
Fairfield
shift commander reported a pick up truck up against the tree on the
drivers side with the driver trapped and with severe injuries. He
requested that the Westport units continue to
the scene to assist
Fairfield
Firefighters with the length process of removing the driver from the
vehicle. Several “jaws” of life
hydraulic rescue tools were required to free the driver from the
badly damaged pick up. The roof and both doors were removed to gain
access to the driver and remove him so that he could be placed on a
back board and transported to the hospital.
After removal from the
vehicle with assistance from both fire departments,
AMR and Westport
EMS, the
driver was transported to
Norwalk
Hospital
by AMR with serious injuries. The last fire department
vehicle cleared the scene at 5:42 PM.

ROLLOVER ON POST ROAD EAST
April 13 2010.... at
4:33 PM
this afternoon the Westport
Fire Department along with
Westport
Police and EMS
responded to a reported motor vehicle accident, rollover with
injuries at the intersection of
Post Road East
and Compo Road South.
Upon arrival, responding units found a Chevy Cavalier on its roof
and leaning on a Saab station wagon, with the driver of the Cavalier
hanging upside down by the vehicles seatbelt.
Firefighters worked to stabilize the
vehicle, and remove occupant onto a backboard and stretcher for
transport by Westport
EMS
to
Norwalk Hospital
with minor injures. Two other parked vehicles in the parking lot of
the Compo
Shopping Center
received minor damage as the Cavalier bounced off of them as it
rolled.
The Cavalier was righted and placed on
a flat bed from Riverside
Service
Center
for removal and the other three vehicles were able to drive away.
Westport
Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

RAILROAD TRACK FIRE DELAYS TRAINS
April 12 2010....
at approximately 8am a call came in to
Westport Fire Department reporting a fire on the tracks at Westport railroad
station. Initially Engine 4 from Saugatuck and the shift commander responded
to the scene. Engine 4 found railroad ties on fire and called for Engine 5
to assist with water. With rail traffic either stopped or on a slow down,
firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and reopen the rails shortly
after all firefighters cleared the tracks.

GARAGE FIRE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED
April 4 2010....
at approximately 1740, the Westport
Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in a detached garage
located at 46 Kings
Highway South. The fire was contained to
a pile of oil stained rags and a few cans of stain. Personal items
were damaged by heat and smoke.
The Westport
Fire Department responded with four Engines, a Rescue and Command
Car. The fire was quickly extinguished and all apparatus placed in
service by 1819 hrs.
MOTORCYCLE DOWN ON I95
April 3 2010....
at 3:14 pm the Westport Fire Department received a
call for a motorcycle accident on Interstate 95 southbound between
exit 17 and 16. Saugatuck
Engine Company 4 was first to arrive on-scene after fighting heavy
traffic and found a Honda Goldwing motorcycle on it’s side up
against the median. A passing
American Medical Response ambulance stopped to render emergency
medical attention to the injured motorcyclist.
Firefighters assisted transferring the injured
Massachusetts
man to the AMR
ambulance who then took him to the hospital.
Rescue Company 3 was placed in service and returned to fire
headquarters. Engine Company
4 remained on scene for approximately two hours to assist the State
Police with their investigation of the accident.

LADDER TRUCK FAREWELL
March 31 2010....
early this afternoon Westport Fire Department's 17 year old ladder
truck, Truck One, was hauled onto the back of a flat bed and headed
to Ohio for a major refurbishment. Just a few days ago the truck was
partially crushed by a falling tree while operating at a fatal
accident during the Nor'Easter that hit Fairfield County. Since that
accident the fire department has been operating a loaner vehicle
supplied to them by Stamford Fire Rescue. The refurbished truck is
expected back in Westport some time later this year.

SERIOUS FLOODING IMPACTS WESTPORT
March 30 2010.... a
two day rain event dumped more that four inches of rain on Westport
causing serious flooding across the town. The tremendous rainfall on
top of the already saturated ground caused basements to flood, small
streams to become raging rivers and the Saugatuck River to overflow
it's banks. Many residents lost power once again but not on the
scale of the recent outages experienced earlier this month. Fire and
Police services were kept extremely busy throughout the storm.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON I95 NORTHBOUND
March 29 2010....
at approximately 10:48 this morning the
Westport Fire
Department responded to a multi-vehicle accident with injuries on
Interstate 95 in the vicinity of Exit 17.
The initial reports indicated a car
versus tractor trailer with patient entrapment.
Engine 4 from the Saugatuck Station
along with Rescue 3 and the Shift Commander from
Westport Fire
Headquarters responded.
Also responding
on automatic mutual aid was a Rescue,
Engine and Shift Commander for the Norwalk Fire Department. Upon arrival
firefighters encountered an Acura sedan with it’s driver entrapped
in the front seat area of the vehicle suffering life threatening
injuries.
Firefighters used hydraulic extrication
tools to remove the driver’s door and free the patient.
Westport
EMS treated the patient on the scene and transported the
male to
Norwalk Hospital.
Interstate 95 northbound
remained closed for approximately 3 hours as
Connecticut
State
Police conducted an investigation. In total 3 cars and a tractor
trailer were involved in the accident, the last
Westport Fire
Department vehicle cleared the scene at
1:54 PM.

FIRE IN FLOOR QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED
March 16 2010.... at
approximately 8pm the fire department responded to a report of smoke
in the building at a residence on Guyer Road. At the same time the
fire department was dealing with another reported structure fire on
the other side of town and a wires down call in Saugatuck. Engine 4
responded to Guyer Road along with Chief of department Chris Ackley
and Deputy Chief John Gottfried who were at Fire Headquarters
dealing with storm related issues at the time. Chief Ackley arrived
first and reported heavy smoke on the first floor. Engine 4 arrived
shortly after and entered the house with a hose line and
extinguishers. Heavy smoke was found to be pushing from an area
around the fireplace and firefighters used a thermal imaging camera
to determine that a fire was burning behind the wall. Firefighters
started removing flooring around the affected area while ladder
company personnel started opening an area beneath the fireplace and
ventilating the home. As more firefighters arrived it was determined
that the fire had been extinguished but an enormous amount of
overhaul was necessary to ensure no re-kindle occurred. Firefighters
stayed on scene for over two hours.
TREE CRUSHES FIRE DEPARTMENT LADDER TRUCK
March 13 2010.... during
the Nor'easter that devastated parts of Fairfield County including
the Town of Westport, firefighters responded to hundreds of calls
for emergency assistance. During a particularly tragic call the fire
department ladder truck was crushed by a falling tree during the
concluding moments of the incident. The truck sustained an enormous
amount of damage but fortunately nobody was injured during the
accident.

TREE FALLS ON CAR FATALLY INJURING DRIVER
March 13 2010....
A large pine tree fell across the Park Lane roadway coming in contact with a
late model Nissan Murano SUV. There were four occupants in the
vehicle at the time of the accident. Three of the four victims were
able to remove themselves from the vehicle prior to the arrival of
the emergency services; however the driver was trapped in the car
and required extrication by responding firefighters. The driver
succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Westport Police, Westport
EMS, and Public Works personnel, worked together
to effect this rescue and attend to the three other victims of
accident. The tree caused
extensive damage to the roof of the vehicle and firefighters had to
utilize chain saws to remove large sections of the tree before being
able to use the "jaws of life" to gain access to the passenger
compartment of the vehicle and reach the victim.
At
the time this rescue was going on winds were in excess of 65 miles
per hour with driving rain.
CLOTHES DRYER FIRE FORCES EVACUATION
March 10 2010....
at
approximately 0635 the Westport Fire Department received an
automatic fire alarm for 25 Bayberry Lane.
When the alarm alerted the home owner she immediately smelled smoke
and advised the alarm company when they called the home. The
Westport Fire Department was advised of the smoke condition and
immediately sent 3 engines, the ladder company, and the Shift
Commander. The first units to arrive found the occupants all in the
front yard and accounted for as the smoke condition worsened.
Firefighters entered the home using
self-contained breathing apparatus and found the dryer in the
basement on fire. The fire was extinguished and the dryer removed
from the home by a basement door. Fire Department personnel remained
on scene until 0745
to ventilate smoke from the structure. The cause of the fire is
under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office.
The fire was confined to the dryer to the
credit of a working fire alarm system and the metal dryer vent hose.
The combination of a working smoke
detector and the monitored fire alarm system also gave the home
owner and her children the time to get out of the house before the
smoke made the house untenable.

POSTAL TRUCK CRUSHED BY FALLING TREE
March 1 2010....
at approximately 1235 the
Westport
Fire Department responded along with
Westport
Police and EMS
to a reported tree onto a vehicle with wires down and arcing. Upon
arrival, units found a postal delivery vehicle had been struck by a
falling tree that also knocked down power lines that were arcing in
the street.
The postal vehicle sustained tremendous
damage to the front end and passenger cabin. The driver miraculously
was able to self extricate himself from the vehicle and walk to the
Westport EMS
ambulance where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and
transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment. Investigators from
the US Postal
Service and the local Postmaster responded to the scene. CL&P was
requested to the scene on a priority to de-energize wires on the
ground and around the vehicle that forced responders to delay
entering the scene to secure the vehicle.
Several surrounding houses were checked
for reported problems with partial or no power causing alarm system
activations. Cross Highway was
closed to traffic from
Sturgis Highway to Bayberry Lane. Upon receiving the “all
clear” from CL&P crews were able to assess the vehicle and found the
engine still running and the vehicle in gear.
The
vehicle was shut down and stabilized.
Town
Highway was called in to remove the tree from the vehicle and the
Postal Service had the vehicle towed and the secured the mail from
the vehicle.
CL&P remained on the scene to repair the
telephone poles and wires and will restore power at some time this
evening. Cross Highway will
remain closed in the area until CL&P completes the repairs. The last
Fire Department unit left the scene at
3:40 PM.

MULTI-VEHICLE MVA ON I95
Feb 27 2010.... at 0023 this morning the
Westport Fire Department responded to a multi-vehicle accident on
I95 on the Saugatuck River bridge. The shift commander, one engine
and the rescue responded to the scene. On arrival it was determined
that six vehicles were involved spread out over one hundred yards.
CT State Police also requested the assistance of Westport Police at
the scene. Westport Police sent three cars to assist. Two ambulances
from Westport EMS also responded. Four occupants of the vehicles
were transported to Norwalk Hospital with what appeared to be
non-life threatening injuries. CT State DOT sand trucks were
requested to the scene to cover the icy roadway. The center and
passing travel lanes were closed for just over an hour. The last
fire department vehicle cleared the scene at 0137.

STRUCTURE FIRE - NEW YORK SPORTS CLUB
Feb 21 2010.... at
06:05
this morning the Westport
Fire Department received a call for an automatic fire alarm sounding
at the New York Sports Club at 427 Post Road East.
While en route a call came in from an off duty firefighter working
out at the club, that there was smoke in the building and a possible
fire in the men’s locker room.
Lt. Mike Kronick assisted the manager in
evacuating the building and directing firefighters to the source of
the smoke. A moderate smoke condition filled the workout area and
upon entering the locker room, it was discovered that there was a
sprinkler head activation in the sauna and visible fire.
Crews brought two 2.5”
attack lines into the building to attack the fire and laid 5” supply
lines to hydrants in the front of the building across the Post Road
and to the rear of the building on East Main Street
for additional water. This required shutting down the Post Road in front of the building for
approximately 1 hr.
Westport
Police provided traffic control and detoured traffic around the
scene. The fire was extinguished
and overhaul performed removing the majority of the wood interior of
the sauna and checking adjoining walls for fire extension. The fire
was contained to the sauna unit, which was removed by firefighters.
Moderate water damage was controlled in
the locker room area and in the basement.
Fire damage was contained to the sauna, with
moderate smoke damage thought the club. Adjoining occupancies had
light smoke conditions that were ventilated. The health department
was summoned to the scene for the club and an adjoining restaurant
with smoke condition per protocols.
The
Westport
Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting the investigation and at this
time has deemed this to be an accidental fire with a cause that is
electrical in origin.
Westport
EMS provided
a standby ambulance at the scene.
Smoke alarms and fire sprinkler system
provided early warning and held the fire to the sauna reducing
damage and will provide for a quick reopening of the club.
A total of 26 firefighters responded to the
scene and the last fire department unit cleared the scene at
9:15 AM.

MVA I95 NB EXIT 17 - 18
Feb
16 2010.... at approximately
7:00 AM the
Westport
Fire Department responded with State Police and Westport
EMS to Interstate 95 northbound between
exits 17 and 18 near the
Hales Rd. overpass for a two car motor
vehicle accident with injuries.
Upon
arrival firefighters found a car into the median with a driver
complaining of neck and back injuries. The driver of the other
vehicle that ended up in the right side travel lane was reporting no
injuries.
Firefighters assessed the injuries of the driver in the first
vehicle, assisted Westport
EMS removing
the driver, and placing them on a back board and stretcher for
transport to Norwalk
Hospital.
Vehicle travel was limited to a single lane northbound for
approximately 25 minutes until both vehicles were removed.

WESTPORT ASSISTS FAIRFIELD WITH STRUCTURE FIRE
Feb 13 2010.... at
approximately 1:45 this afternoon Westport firefighters responded to
assist members of the Fairfield Fire Department with a structure
fire on Sasco River Lane. Initially dispatched to cover Fairfield
Fire Headquarters on Reef Road, Westport units were quickly sent to
the scene to assist with extinguishment. Westport units returned to
their quarters just before 4pm.
MVA I95 NB EXIT 17-18
Feb 13 2010.... at approximately 2am on
Saturday morning Westport Fire Department along with State PD and
Westport EMS responded to a motor vehicle accident on I95 northbound
between exits 17 and 18. First arriving units found a single vehicle
in the right travel lane with significant damage. The single
occupant of the vehicle was treated by firefighters from the first
due engine company while the rescue company dealt with fluid spills,
lighting and vehicle safety. The patient was transferred to Westport
EMS for transport to Norwalk hospital. Fire department units
remained on scene until just after 3am.

WESTPORT FIRE LIEUTENANTS RESPOND TO POWER PLANT EXPLOSION
Feb 7 2010.... at approximately 1300 on
Sunday afternoon, Connecticut's Urban Search and Rescue Team (CT-TF1
US&R) was activated to respond to a massive explosion and building
collapse at the Kleen Energy plant in Middletown to assist local
agencies with search, rescue and the collapse of the building. As
part of that response Fire Lt. Brett Kirby and Fire Lt. Richard
Stone responded with CT-TF1 US&R to assist with search and rescue of
trapped workers. Initially it was believed that up to 100 workers
may be trapped amidst the rubble. A massive coordinated response
from statewide fire, rescue, law enforcement and EMS agencies along
with numerous federal agencies converged on the scene. Search dogs
were also used alongside collapse teams to scour the rubble. The
blast killed 5 workers and seriously injured 27 others. The incident
is currently under investigation.
STRUCTURE FIRE WITH EXTENSION
Feb 8 2010.... at approximately 0603
this morning the Westport Fire Department responded to a report of a
fire on the outside of a structure in close proximity to a house.
First arriving units discovered fire on the outside corner of the
house. The occupant was attempting to extinguish and control the
spread of the fire with pails of water. A plastic storage shed and
all of it's contents were completely destroyed. Wood trim and
shingles on the main house were also damaged by fire. CL&P was asked
to respond to replace a melted electrical meter attached to the
house. There was also damage to the able and telephone wires on the
outside of the house. The last fire department unit cleared the
scene at 0708.

BICYCLIST STRUCK BY
CAR
Feb 4 2010.... a male
bicyclist, described by witnesses as “an older man,” was apparently
severely injured shortly before noon today when he collided with a
car on Westport’s Compo Road North at East Main Street. The impact
caused the bicycle to split in two, its wheels coming to rest in
front of the car, which had heavy damage to the windshield. The
female driver, while shaken up, did not appear to be seriously
injured, according to witnesses. The bicyclist was taken to Norwalk
Hospital by Westport EMS.
STRUCTURE FIRE ON
FRESENIUS ROAD
January 8 2010.... at
12:20
this afternoon the Westport
Fire Department responded to the report of “smoke in the basement”
at 11 Fresenius Road.
3
Engines, a ladder truck, the Shift Commander and the departments
Safety Officer responded.
First arriving personnel found a light
smoke condition in a basement office, with the odor of wood burning.
Fire department personnel used their
thermal imaging cameras to scan the interior of an exterior wall and
located a “hot spot” just above a light switch.
The area in question was opened up
using tools and exposed a smoldering fire behind the sheetrock wall.
Firefighters
removed all of the sheetrock from the interior wall, including the
insulation, to check for fire extension.
Electricity in the basement office area
was turned off at the main electric panel and a gas appliance
located within the interior wall was also turned off.
The cause of the
fire is under investigation by the Westport Fire Marshal’s
Office.
The house was
determined to be safe for the family to reoccupy immediately. The
last fire department unit cleared the scene at
1:40 PM.
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