Thompson, CT – Firefighters quickly knocked down a fire in an uninhabited historic home Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024, the East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department’s 1st alarm was struck for reports of smoke coming from a home at 1232 Thompson Rd. The building, built in 1850, had previously been a schoolhouse and is the namesake of School House Pond located across the road.
When crews were dispatched, East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department members were already on a medical call on E Thompson Rd. Crews quickly finished their call and responded back to their station to change trucks, making it to the scene approximately 7 minutes after the initial dispatch.
As the initial engine, Engine 185 (E-185) arrived on the scene, a mutual aid fire officer reported active fire on the first and second floors as well as the attic. With E-185 having a 3-person crew due to staffing on their previous call, one needing to take command and another needing to operate the truck, an attack crew was formed with firefighters from multiple area departments who responded directly to the scene. Once inside, firefighters confirmed moderate fire on the second floor with heavy smoke and little visibility. The initial crew knocked down a large amount of fire within 10 minutes allowing for the remainder of the 1st alarm assignment to arrive on the scene to assist.
Although the fire was knocked down quickly, crews spent approximately 2.5 hours chasing hotspots. Due to the age of the home, many areas with old wood and building materials had been covered over time where the fire was able to burn largely unnoticed until crews opened walls and utilized thermal cameras. Due to the heat and humidity crews were forced to constantly rotate out of the building, utilizing nearly every interior firefighter on the 1st alarm assignment.
During the incident, Putnam EMS stood by on the scene but were not required to treat any injuries.
The fire remains under investigation by the Thompson Fire Marshals Office.
Agencies that responded included the East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department, Thompson Fire Engine Company (Thompson Hill), Community Fire Company, Quinebaug Volunteer Fire Department, East Putnam Fire Department, Pascoag Fire Department, Attawaugan Fire Department, Putnam EMS, and the Thompson Fire Marshals Office.
