News

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).

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.