Archive

Commercial Building Fire

Thursday, June 21st, 1:45pm, Woodbridge Fire is dispatched to a location on Amity Road for "outside electrical panel on fire". Upon arrival, fire units determine that fire has extended inside the building. A second alarm, and assistance from Bethany Fire Department is requested. Fire units are able to restrict the spread of the fire to the office area of the auto body shop. Bethany Fire Department assisted Woodbridge Fire with fire suppression, salvage and overhaul activities.

Dramatic Animal Rescue

Wednesday, February 21st, 9:39pm, Woodbridge Fire is dispatched for "citizen requests assistance with horse stuck in middle of pond in ice". Firefighters responding with a full rescue assignment find a horse that has fallen through the ice approximately 50 feet offshore. Horse is unable to self rescue since ice is thick and is submerged with only head above the surface. Firefighters modified tactics and equipment used for surface rescue of human victims to effect rescue of this large animal. Firefighters first secured a rope to the horse's bridle in order to guide horse out (photo 1). Second, a path had to be cut through the 50 feet of ice from the hole the horse fell through to shore (photo 2/3). Once horse was on the embankment, horse was assisted to level ground using ropes, towstraps and a salvage cover (photos 4/5). Firefighters then stayed on scene to assist veterinarians with lighting, a heat source and other support efforts to warm and care for the horse. At approximately 4:30am on Thursday, the horse was able to walk under it's own power to warm shelter. All photos by Firefighter Pat Scully.

Busy January Gets Busier for Woodbridge Fire

At 4:04am on January 18th, Woodbridge Fire was dispatched to an address on Racebrook Road for a reported structure fire. Car 21 arrived on scene at 4:09am and reported the structure was fully involved with fire. A second alarm was immediately struck for additional Woodbridge Fire personnel and apparatus. Mutual aid tankers were also requested, since the structure was in a non-hydranted area of Woodbridge. Units responding from Woodbridge Fire included Engine 2, Rescue 5, Engine 7, Tanker 8, Squad 4, Utility 1 and Special Operations Trailer 1. Mutual aid fire departments from Bethany, Seymour and Ansonia responded. American Medical Response provided EMS coverage at the scene. Woodbridge Police and Woodbridge Public Works Department also provided assistance at the fire scene.

Busy start to 2007 for Woodbridge Fire

Woodbridge Fire is off to a busy start for 2007. At 7:15am on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007 Engine 9 and Rescue 5 responded to a motor vehicle accident at Seymour Road (Route 67) between Peck Hill Road and Bethmour Road with victims trapped. Firefighters found a vehicle astride the guardrail over a steep embankment and stream. With the assistance of the Woodbridge Police, Woodbridge Fire stabilized the vehicle and removed the driver (photos 1 and 2) While wrapping up this call, Engine 9 was dispatched to a fully involved vehicle fire at Amity Road and Fieldstone Drive. Firefighters found a van on fire and performed suppression and salvage activities (photo 3). At approximately 9:00pm on Friday, January 12th, Car 21, Car 22, Engine 9, Rescue 5 and Squad 4 responded to a motor vehicle accident with extrication on the Merritt Parkway in the area of exit 58 southbound. Woodbridge Fire, working with Woodbridge Police and the Connecticut State Police extricated five victims (photos 4 and 5).

Training Burn

On November 4th, 2006 members of the Woodbridge Fire Department conducted a live burn drill. The subject building was an out outbuilding that needed to be disposed of on Pease Road in the Town of Woodbridge. This drill gave our members valuable refresher training on our Compressed Air Foam system which is on our first due attack apparatus.

Fire Prevention

October was Fire Prevention Month! Fire Marshal Mike Cavanaugh and members of the Woodbridge Fire Department provided fire prevention education to over 700 children at ten different facilities in Woodbridge throughout the month of October.

Engine 260 Muster

Woodbridge Fire attended the 35th annual Engine 260 Muster held in Milford, CT on Sept 9th,2006. For the first time in recent memory, Woodbridge Fire fielded a muster team to compete in many of the various events. Attendence at this event is important not only to maintain the traditions of the fire service but also serves as a valuable team building exercise for Woodbridge Fire. More Muster Pictures

CERT Training

Fire Marshal Mike Cavanaugh recently held fire extinguisher training for the current Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class being sponsored by the Woodbridge Police Department. The team is composed of members of the local community. They are receiving training to enable them to assist local authorities in the event of large scale disasters when first responding agencies are overwhelmed.

For more information on CERT please contact the Woodbridge Police Department