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Recent Calls

Driver Very Lucky After Tree Crashes On Vehicle (Sunday, July 14, 2024)

Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were dispatched at 14:40 to Berkshire Road west of Checkerberry Lane for a reported tree vs vehicle, with wires involved. While en route, firefighters were told a transformer may be involved. They were also told the driver of the vehicle was already out of the vehicle.

Eversource was also notified. 

The first arriving member of NVAC confirmed the driver, a 60-year-old male, was already out of the 2004 Dodge Dakota Sport and uninjured.

SHVFR Chief Anthony Capozziello arrived on scene and further confirmed the reports. He also noted that while all wires were pulled down when a large tree fell on them, the wires were not on the Dakota. 

Rescue 441 and a crew also responded to the scene. CT DOT was also added to the call, which closed Berkshire between both intersections with Chestnut Hill Road. Fire police worked with Newtown PD to detour traffic over Chestnut Hill Road. 

A long stretch of wires and multiple poles were affected. Brush fires were starting on both sides of the incident. Chief Capozziello had Botsford Fire Rescue added to the call at the time, to assist with putting out some of the brush fires. 

The driver was checked for injuries, and was not transported.

Botsford cleared at 15:33.

Firefighters remained on scene until the vehicle was towed. Eversource and DOT were on the scene.

Sandy Hook cleared at 15:58.

The crash kept Berkshire closed for hours, until all poles could be repaired and all wires rehung. 

View from the west.
Firefighters walk toward Checkerberry Lane to continue locating brush fires.

Three Companies Respond To Car Vs Pole With Extrication

Sandy Hook VFR was dispatched with Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a medic at 07:13 to a reported motor vehicle accident with extrication on Swamp Road, in Botsford’s district. Dispatch was reporting the driver’s side of a car had crashed into a utility pole, trapping the driver, who was injured. 

A Newtown PD officer arrived on scene and confirmed the entrapment of a male driver, who was reporting leg pain. The officer also reported the pole did not receive significant damage. 

The medic reported the car had T-boned against the pole. 

Botsford Chief Andrew White added Newtown Hook & Ladder to the call upon his arrival. 

Sandy Hook Rescue 444 and Engine 441 responded with crews. Sandy Hook VFR Chief Anthony Capozziello also went direct to the crash. 

Firefighters used Hurst tools and additional equipment to get the driver out of the vehicle. The driver was transported to the hospital. 

Sandy Hook and Hook & Ladder cleared from the scene at 07:57. Botsford cleared at 08:01.

Driver Safe After Fire Engulfs & Destroys Camry

Wednesday, February 21, 2024: Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Hook & Ladder were dispatched at 13:07 for a reported car fire on I-84 West between Exits 11 and 10.

Fire Police Shannon Will confirmed the vehicle was just east of the Church Hill Road overpass and fully involved. The male driver of the vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Camry, was able to exit the vehicle without injury. 

Engine 441 and a crew responded from Sandy Hook, and Engine 111 with a crew responded from Hook & Ladder. Sandy Hook Lieutenant Archie Paloian assumed command upon arrival with 441. 

A CT DOT crew staged behind the apparatus and CT State Police cruisers, and provided blocking and traffic management. 

Firefighters quickly extended a line and knocked down the fire. 

Hook & Ladder was released at 13:43. The vehicle was towed by Modzelewski’s, and Sandy Hook returned to service at 13:59. 

View upon arrival by Fire Police Shannon Will.

Engine 441 and its crew arriving on scene.

SHVFR Firefighter Andy DeWolfe on the hose line.

SHVFR Firefighter Andy DeWolfe (left) and Engineer Brian Engelke on the hoseline.

Firefighter Andy DeWolfe works to open the engine compartment (above) and truck (below).

Propane Tank Fire Creates Minor Damage To Home Exterior

Saturday, January 20, 2024: All five of Newtown’s fire companies were dispatched at 21:45 for a reported structure fire in Sandy Hook’s district. The owners of a Cricket Trail home reported their propane tanks were burning, with direct exposure to their dwelling.

SHVFR Chief Anthony Capozziello was on scene at 21:52 and confirmed that while flames had been showing as he approached, the homeowner was able to douse the worst of the fire as firefighters were responding. Chief Capozziello had all companies continue, due to a tank that was still leaking.

Sandy Hook Ladder 440, Hook & Ladder Ladder 114, and Botsford Engine 551 all responded with crews. Sandy Hook Engine 442 responded to the company’s main station for standby with its crew. 

Following the arrival of 440, Chief Capozziello had responding units continue with traffic. Dodgingtown and Hawleyville were returned to service. 

Firefighters did overhaul and checked for hotspots from the exterior of the home with thermal imaging cameras and from within the attic. A few locations were soaked down. 

JP Maguire was called to the scene to board up the damaged area. The homeowners were able to remain in their residence.

There were no injuries. 

Hook & Ladder and Botsford returned to service at 22:29; Sandy Hook followed at 22:30.

Two-Vehicle Crash On Icy Zoar Road

Thursday, January 18, 2024: Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Police were dispatched to Zoar Road west of its intersection with Bennetts Bridge Road at 16:41 for a reported two-vehicle crash with no injuries. Firefighters and local police were just clearing from a crash on Berkshire, just south of its intersection with Zoar, as the call was coming in.
Deputy Chief Ryan Clark and Rescue 444 responded to the scene. Engine 442 stood by at Sandy Hook’s substation with a crew.
Firefighters found a 2018 Toyota Highlander and a 2013 Jeep Wrangler had collided head-on on the icy road.
Firefighters put down Speedi-Dri and closed the road to through traffic. Deputy Chief Clark requested a Town plow truck to the scene due to the icy conditions.
Newtown Volunteer Ambulance was also dispatched for a facial laceration suffered by the male driver of the Toyota. He was transported BLS.
The Honda was towed from the scene; the Jeep was driven away.
Sandy Hook returned to service at 17:29.

Fully Involved Car Fire Further Snarls Morning Rush Hour Traffic

Wednesday, January 17, 2024: Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Hook & Ladder were dispatched at 07:47 for a possible vehicle fire on I-84 West between Exits 10 and 9, in Hook & Ladder’s first due district.
Fire Police Shannon Will was first to arrive at the vehicle and confirmed it was burning. The elderly male driver was out of the vehicle, uninjured. The vehicle, a 2009 Nissan Sentra, had flames showing upon arrival. It was fully engulfed within minutes.
Sandy Hook Tanker 449 was first on scene, with Deputy Chief Ryan Clark onboard and taking command upon arrival. 

Tanker 449 offered blocking. 

Firefighters stretched a line and knocked down the fire within four minutes.
Hook & Ladder Engine 111 then arrived with a crew, led by Second Assistant Chief Jason Shuttleworth. Hook & Ladder helped with extinguishment and clean-up. 
Firefighters continued soaking the vehicle. They also spread Speedi-Dri on the road, which by then had been closed to all traffic.
A State DOT sand truck was requested to the scene due to frigid air temperatures and the freezing runoff from fire suppression.
Hilario’s sent a flatbed to the scene, which towed the vehicle.
Both companies cleared from I-84 at 08:53.

Sunday Morning Rollover On Toddy Hill Road

January 14, 2024: Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic and Newtown police all responded at 0600 Sunday, January 14, after dispatch was notified of a crash on Toddy Hill Road through an automated vehicle alert system. 

Newtown PD were first on the scene and confirmed a vehicle on its roof, with the driver trapped in the vehicle. Botsford Fire Rescue was added to the call at that point. 

Chief Anthony Capozziello was on scene within minutes, confirmed the scene, and assumed command. The chief reported a 52-year-old female was in the vehicle, a 2005 Toyota Camry. The driver was conscious and alert, and reporting back and neck pain. 

Sandy Hook Rescue 444 and Engine 442 and Botsford Engine 551 also responded with crews. 

The patient was extricated from the vehicle and transported ALS. 

Botsford cleared at 06:49. 

Sandy Hook remained on scene until the vehicle was towed. The company returned to service at 07:19. 

Bucket Truck Rollover At Exit 11 Offramp-Wasserman Way Corner

Tuesday, November 28, 2023: Sandy Hook VFR, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Newtown PD were dispatched at 10:21 to Wasserman Way near the Exit 11 offramp for a reported truck rollover there. The driver was reportedly uninjured.

Upon arrival, Chief Capozziello confirmed the rollover and that the driver was out of the vehicle and uninjured. The truck had rolled onto its passenger side while taking the right turn from the ramp onto Wasserman. The male driver was able to self-extricate.

Firefighters put down Speedi-Dri and managed traffic through the scene. 

The driver was checked for injuries but did not get transported. 

Sandy Hook cleared from the scene at 10:48. 

The truck was towed and the scene fully cleared approximately 90 minutes later. 

2-Car MVA On Berkshire Road

Sandy Hook VFR and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance were dispatched at 07:48 for a reported two-vehicle MVA with injuries on Berkshire Road near Skidmore Lane.

NVAC arrived on the scene and confirmed minor injuries, and advised SHVFR that fluids were in the roadway.

Sandy Hook First Assistant Chief Andy Ryan arrived soon after and confirmed the scene. Engine 441 also responded with a crew.

Firefighters applied Speedi-Dri to the road, and swept up additional debris before one of the vehicles was towed.

They also assisted with traffic, diverting westbound Berkshire Road traffic around the scene while keeping eastbound traffic moving near the scene.

One driver was transported to the hospital BLS. The other was checked for injuries but did not need transport.

Sandy Hook cleared at 08:29.