Woodstock, CT — A midday house fire escalated to four alarms Thursday afternoon, bringing firefighters from as far away as Brooklyn, Connecticut, and Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
At approximately 12:03 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Muddy Brook, Woodstock, and Bungay fire departments were dispatched to the area of County Road and Phelps Road for reports of heavy black smoke in the area. Due to the volume of smoke visible while crews were attempting to locate the source, a second alarm structure fire assignment was struck.
Shortly afterward, Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications (QVEC) dispatchers received another call reporting the smoke in the area of Dividend Road. Using mapping technology, Muddy Brook firefighters were able to pinpoint the fire to 53 Dividend Road, located within the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association’s district.
Upon arrival, Chief Gugliotti reported a two-story residence with heavy fire throughout the structure and no signs of occupants inside. Due to the extent of the fire and the structural instability of the building, crews made the decision to conduct a defensive operation rather than send firefighters inside.
Dividend Road is a narrow dirt road, preventing fire apparatus from safely accessing the scene. As a result, all apparatus other than tankers were staged on Route 169, with firefighters walking approximately one-quarter mile down Dividend Road before continuing nearly 1,000 feet uphill along the driveway to reach the residence. A nearby resident assisted firefighters by using a UTV to shuttle numerous personnel and equipment to the scene.
Firefighters spent approximately three and a half hours extinguishing what remained of the home, requiring a significant volume of water. A tanker shuttle was established between the fire scene and a fill site near the Woodstock Trading Post, creating a nearly three-mile loop.
Due to the sustained water demand and the distance to the fill site, third and fourth alarms were struck to bring additional tankers to the scene. Tankers from numerous area departments ultimately delivered more than 30,000 gallons of water during the incident.
There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.
The home was destroyed by the fire. The two occupants are being assisted by family members and the American Red Cross. Three family dogs remain unaccounted for.
The fire remains under investigation by the Woodstock Fire Marshal’s Office and the Connecticut State Fire Marshal’s Office.