Woodstock, CT – Automatic fire alarms and closed doors allowed volunteer firefighters from multiple towns to make it to a daytime house fire Wednesday afternoon before the home was consumed.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25th, 2024, members of the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, along with Engine Tankers from the Bungay Fire Brigade and Muddy Brook Fire Department, were dispatched to 55 Loyola Rd for an automatic fire alarm activation. Minutes later the the call was upgraded to a 1st alarm structure fire when the first due Chief reported smoke pushing from the chimney.
According to Chief Eric Young, Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, when he arrived on the scene, less than 5 minutes after the initial fire alarm dispatch, the smell of smoke was apparent in the air but no smoke was visible. During his 360-degree size up of the house, he noted two vehicles in the driveway but found all the doors locked as he went. When he returned to the A (front from the road) side, smoke was pushing from the chimney and 1st-floor deck. With smoke now visible, it was apparent there was a fire inside the building, he immediately called for a full 1st alarm assignment bringing in all Woodstock departments, a Firefighter Assisted Search Team (FAST) from East Putnam, and a special request was made for a full response from Putnam Fire Department due to the time of day and all departments being made up of volunteers who may still be at their full-time jobs.
With no fire hydrants, the first arriving truck laid approximately 1000′ of 5″ large diameter hose (LDH) from the Quasset Lake boat launch to the house. This LDH supplied water for the duration of this incident without failure or need to be augmented.
The first arriving firefighters rapidly began a primary search of the house, with cars in the driveway the immediate fear was that a resident may still be inside. During the search, the regional dispatch center Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications (QVEC) received a call from the homeowners informing them that nobody was in the house at the time but there were 6 cats inside.
Once confident nobody was trapped inside, crews shifted focus to extinguishing the fire. Two 1 3/4″ attack lines were deployed into the structure and a backup 2 1/2″ line was staged outside. Crews primarily fought the fire in the B/C (back left from the road) corner of the house but were hindered by a severely compromised floor. During the early stages of the fire, engineered trusses in the basement appear to have burnt through, compromising a large section of the floor above. The bulk of the fire appears to have occurred in the basement before extending to the 1st floor. The rest of the home was damaged by smoke but no fire traveled outside of the B/C corner. Chief Young explained that nearly every door within the structure was closed significantly slowing the spread of the fire.
Chief Young finished by extending his thanks to all of the mutual aid companies on the scene, as well as stressing how lucky it was that so many volunteers were available to respond when the call was dispatched.
No firefighters or civilians were injured on the scene. 4 of the 6 cats were rescued and received care from Woodstock EMS. The 2 remaining cats were later found in good health.
This incident is under investigation by the Woodstock Fire Marshal’s Office and the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.
Agencies that responded, or were dispatched, included the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, Muddy Brook Fire Department, Bungay Fire Brigade, East Putnam Fire Department, Putnam Fire Department, Eastford Fire Co. #1, Quinebaug Fire Department, Woodstock EMS, and the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.
