Thompson, CT – Thompson Auto Care, a center point of Thompson’s small business landscape was destroyed when a vehicle fire within the garage extended to the rest of the building. Firefighters operated on the scene for several hours extinguishing the fire.
At approximately 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 the Community Fire Company was dispatched to Thompson Auto Care, 1056 Riverside Dr, for reports of a vehicle on fire within the building. 2 minutes later the first fire officer arrived at the scene and reported the fire had extended to the structure. A 1st alarm structure fire assignment was ordered bringing in companies from several surrounding towns.
The man who was working on his personal vehicle within the shop at the time of the fire was able to report the fire and safely escape the blaze before the fire department’s arrival.
As the first apparatus, Engine Tanker 181, arrived on the scene, approximately 8 minutes after the initial dispatch, two 1.75″ lines were immediately deployed to the A (Front) of the structure where heavy fire was now shooting through blown-out windows and a rolling garage door as small explosions (likely tires or small tanks) went off within the building. With ET181 being a 2 man cab, crews were forced to operate the handlines with a single firefighter manning each nozzle. The initial crew was able to largely “darken down” (reduce the volume of fire) the fire within the main garage area before additional trucks and manpower arrived on the scene.
Gene Raymond, Assistant Chief of Community Fire Company, told Quiet Corner Alerts “The initial fire within the main garage was knocked down pretty quickly but the fire had breached the ceiling and gotten into the attic space.”
With plenty of manpower now arriving on the scene, an additional hand line was deployed to the D (right from the front) side of the building where a fire in the C/D (rear right from the front) was threatening a camper that was parked nearby. Crews were able to cool this portion of the fire quickly enough to ensure the camper incurred no damage. Crews then utilized a K12 circular saw to cut through the closed garage door near the camper and make an offensive attack on the fire.
Simultaneously a deck gun was utilized to spray a large volume of water on the fire which had broken through the roof of an attic space that was inaccessible to interior crews after the stairs had burnt through early in the fire. The deck gun was later replaced by Quinebaug’s Ladder 183 allowing a firefighter to better guide the stream of water.
Due to the fire, the integrity of the roof was a constant concern for firefighters operating on it, crews could be seen frequently checking the strength and guiding each other away from soft spots. Interior crews had to be ordered out of the building at one point as a waste oil heater fell through the roof into the main garage where crews were operating.
While this portion of the fire district is hydranted, the nearest fire hydrant was approximately 1400′ away in front of Drafters Sports Cafe, 1017 Riverside Dr. Crews were required to utilize two separate trucks to lay the 5″ Large Diameter Hose (LDH), both laying approximately 700′ of LDH along the roadway connecting the hydrant to the fire engines operating around the structure. To support the volume of water being utilized (and common practice of redundancy in case of failure) a second 1400′ length of LDH was laid alongside the first to connect a draft site (an engine sucking water from a water source) established at the North Grosvenordale Pond behind Drafters. Crews were able to utilize tankers and engine tankers, which carry between 750 and 3000 gallons of water, to ensure firefighters didn’t run out of water while the long-term water supplies were being established.
During the incident, both the Special Signal Association Providence Canteen and Killingly Rehab Unit were on the scene. These units provide rehab services (medical evaluations following firefighting operations to reduce the risk of acute medical events from over-exertion on the scene), as well as hydration, food, and a warm or cool place for firefighters to get out of the elements. As temperatures drop during the winter (and alternatively rise during the summer) these two units are vital to ensuring responders remain capable of operating during longer-duration incidents.
The fire was held to a 1st alarm assignment with many departments being asked to bring additional trucks than were initially dispatched. For example, a department whose tanker was the only truck requested was requested to bring an additional engine and manpower to the scene. Community Fire Company’s 1st alarm brings in departments, both volunteer and paid, from within Thompson and surrounding towns in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. During the fire, several departments within Thompson were manned by cover companies from other towns should another incident happen in town.
Assistant Chief Raymond finished by saying “The mutual aid companies that came in from within town and outside did a fantastic job as far as thinking ahead. They did what needed to be done without having to be instructed [by command staff].”
In addition to the building being significantly damaged three vehicles were within the structure at the time of the fire and are likely total losses. Several other vehicles were parked near the structure and sustained damage during the incident.
During the incident Route 12 (Riverside Dr) and Route 131 (Quinebaug Rd) were both shut down by fire police to allow for firefighters to safely operate and for LDH to be laid in the roadway
The Putnam EMS Thompson ambulance stood by for the duration of the event but were not required to treat any firefighters or civilians.
Representatives from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) team responded to the scene to evaluate potential environmental hazards due to the type of business involved. A minimal amount of waste oil and other materials spilled within the structure during the fire but it is not anticipated to cause any hazards to the land, waterways, or population in the area.
The cause of the initial vehicle fire remains under investigation by the Thompson Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit. While this incident occurred after its release, a blanket joint press release has been issued by the area Fire Marshal’s Offices regarding the extraordinary amount of fires in the past two months. This fire will likely be covered under the blanket statement. Read the full press release here.
For a short period in 2022, Community Fire Company’s Heavy Rescue truck (R481) was stored at Thompson Auto Care while Station 81 underwent repairs to the stations’ floors. The truck returned to being stored at the fire department when the repairs were completed in late 2022. No fire apparatus have been stored at the shop since.
Thompson Auto Care is owned and operated by John Sharpe, Chief of Community Fire Company.
A gofundme has been created by the members of the Community Fire Company to assist John and his family following the fire. The gofundme explains that John has insurance on the building and the vehicles damaged but he will be out of work until he can find a way forward. The donations will be used to assist John and his family in paying current living expenses until insurance can kick in and they can find a way forward.
Agencies that responded, or were dispatched, included: the Community Fire Company, Quinebaug Volunteer Fire Department, Thompson Fire Engine Company (Thompson Hill), East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department, East Putnam Fire Department, Dudley Fire Department, Webster Fire Department, Southbridge Fire Department, West Thompson Fire Department, Bungay Fire Brigade, Killingly Rehab Unit, Special Signal Association Providence Canteen, and Putnam EMS.
The gallery and print are available here.
[…] At 6:39 p.m. on December 30th, 2023 the Community Fire Company was alerted to a vehicle fire at Thompson Auto Care, 1056 Riverside Dr. Upon the arrival of Chief John Sharpe, he reported that the fire had extended to the structure and the incident was upgraded to a 1st alarm structure fire bringing in fire departments from surrounding town in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. As additional personnel arrived on the scene Chief Sharpe turned Incident Command over to Assistant Chief Gene Raymond due to Chief Sharpe’s personal ties to the business. Read our full article on the fire here. […]