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WATERBURY, CT - At approximately 10:15pm on June 29, 2022, Waterbury Firefighters arrived at 10 3rd Street to find heavy fire showing from the top floor of a 2 1/2 wood frame home. They aggressively searched the home and worked to rescue several victims. No further details on their condition at the time of this reporting. Thank you to Anthony Delucia for providing the early footage and video thumbnail image.

BRIDGEPORT, CT - At approximately 9:30pm on June 26, 2022, Bridgeport Firefighters battled a 2 alarm fire in a 2 story vacant commercial building located at 74 Oak St. in the Hollow Section of the City. Multiple buildings were involved and mutual aid responded from several towns to cover Bridgeport firehouses. Cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this reporting.

SHELTON, CT - Shortly after 5:00pm on June 22, 2021, the Shelton Fire Department arrived on scene to heavy fire involvement of a middle unit of a 3 unit condominium. Shortly after, fire had traveled to the attic space of all 3 units and the fire attack turned defensive.

[UPDATE 6/21/22] Image gallery from the scene posted here: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y3cf7bsa">https://tinyurl.com/y3cf7bsa</a> SHELTON, CT - At approximately 2:30pm on June 12, 2022 the Shelton Fire Department was dispatched to 950 Howe Avenue for a one car rollover with two people trapped in their vehicle that ended up on it’s passenger side. Both people were extricated and transmitted to local hospitals with injuries. The injuries did not appear to be life threatening at the time of this writing. As of now there are no details as to what caused this crash.

Wildwood took a terrible loss this week.(Matt C/Unsplash) Wildwood Boardwalk shared a scorching three-alarm fire to their Facebook page on Tuesday – the Sea Kist Motel nearly went up in flames!

SANTA MONICA, CA: On Tuesday, June 13th, Santa Monica Firefighters responded to a reported brush fire in the bluffs above PCH, upon the first in engine 7's arrival, they observed heavy fire and smoke showing at the top of the bluffs and called for additional resources. Engines 1,2, & 3 alongside Battalion 1, Truck 1, and Rescue 1 responded to assist with knocking down the flames in the bluffs. Santa Monica Police Department was called out to block PCH as well as the California Incline to ensure that fire crews had enough space to operate and work with. Engines 2 & 7 worked from PCH while engines 1 & 3 worked on Ocean ave to get the fire out on the bluffs. A palm tree did catch on fire on Ocean Avenue, threatening multiple structures nearby. Firefighters at that time asked for Santa Monica PD to also close down Ocean while they worked on the fire down below on the bluffs as well as the fire that was in the Palm Tree. There were no evacuation orders issued to any residents in the area. The approximate size immediately given to the public is a 100 by 150 area on the bluffs, this is just an estimate and is not confirmed at this time. The fire was knockdown very quickly and crews were finished clearing up hotspots before reopening the road around 8:15 that evening. Traffic was reportedly backed up to East Los Angeles on the 10 due to PCH being shut down. There were no reported injuries or structures damaged from the fire.

FirefighterPhoto by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash. It was announced on June 9 that Atlanta's City Council will consider proposed legislation from Mayor Andre Dickens that would see firefighters salaries increased by anything from 7 to 15.5%. The increase is intended to attract new firefighters to join the force, while also rewarding and recognizing the efforts of long-serving members of the team.

WATERBURY, CT - At approximately 12:40pm on June 9, 2022, the Waterbury Fire Department responded to to the area of 35 East Main Street for a fire in an underground electrical vault beneath the sidewalk. The fire was quickly knocked down, but not before it caused the 4 story commercial building at 35 East Main St. structural damage to the 1st and 2nd floors. There were no reported injuries, but many businesses and residents lost power in the downtown area for over an hour.

23 departments receive over $41,000 in funding. Volunteer Firefighters and EMS organizations are encouraged to apply. New Jersey American Water announced on June 8 the recipients of its 2022 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program.

SHELTON, CT - At approximately 3:30pm on May 28, 2022, Shelton Fire Companies 4 and 1 were dispatched to the area of 661 River Road for the rolled over vehicle. It was reported that there was still one person trapped in the vehicle and trying to get out. Upon arrival of the first units, they found that the driver had just self-rescued as they pulled up. Luckily the driver appeared to have no injuries and refused medical help. This accident took place in the same location as a previous multiple fatal accident a few years ago. River Road is plagued with several accidents yearly.

Monroe, CT - At approximately 12:30pm on May 25, 2022, members of the Stepney Volunteer Fire Department and Botsford Fire Department were dispatched to the 300 block of S Main Street for a reported mulch/brush fire. First in companies found a large 100x200ft area burning on a commercial sized mulch pile and running up the hillside. Mutual aid was called in from all over the surrounding area (Newtown Hook & Ladder, Stevenson, Monroe, and Sandy Hook) to set up a tanker shuttle operation to combat the fire. It would take several hours before the fire would be put under control. The incident radio traffic audio for this video was provided by Broadcastify. This flight was conducted with all the required permissions.

NEW HAVEN, CT - At approximately 10:45pm on May 24, 2022, the New Haven Fire Department arrived on scene to find heavy fire in the attic of a 2 1/2 story wood frame home at 14 Elliot Street. A working fire was called, and at the time of this writing there were no reported injuries, and no word on cause as of yet.

Last week, Governor Murphy visited the Hackensack Fire Department to announce the new Firefighter Grant Program which will provide fire departments and first responders with protective, cleaning, and sanitation equipment.

BRIDGEPORT, CT - On May 18, 2022, several members of the Bridgeport Fire Dept were promoted or sworn-in at 5:30pm in the Common Council Chambers at 45 Lyon Terrace in front of family and friends. Promotions included one fire marshal, one deputy fire marshal, one captain, fourteen lieutenants, two fire inspectors, five pumper engineers, and 4 new firefighters were sworn-in. Congrats to all and their families!

WATERBURY, CT - Five years ago on May 17, 2017, at approximately 7:00pm, the Waterbury Fire Department was dispatched to Lounsbury Street for a reported fire. First in companies found 3 large wood frame dwelling heavily involved on arrival. With the help of considerable winds as well, it wasn’t long before another house would catch downwind and across the street from the previous three structures. In all, the fire would consume 4 multi-family houses before going under control. Thirty seven people would end up homeless from the blaze, but fortunately there were no civilian casualties or loss of life. Four firefighters were transported to the hospital for injuries sustained fighting the fire. Mutual aid was received at the scene as well as City firehouses for coverage from Naugutuck, Prospect, Cheshire, Watertown, Wolcott, and Middlebury. Visit FIREGROUNDIMAGES.COM and search 2017 for a full photo gallery from this fire.

Final farewell for Firefighter Ricardo "Rico" Torres Jr. May 12, 2021.FIREGROUNDIMAGES.COM Photo. NEW HAVEN, CT - One year ago today, at approximately 12:45am, the New Haven Fire Department tragically lost one of their own at a house fire as he heroically gave his life to save others. Firefighter Ricardo “Rico” Torres Jr. made the ultimate sacrifice in the early morning hours at a house fire on May 12, 2021 at 190 Valley Street. 911 dispatchers were receiving multiple calls for a house fire. First companies on scene found heavy fire from the 2 family home. It was reported that there were two people trapped and an aggressive interior fire attack and search was commenced. Two residents were successfully rescued, but unfortunately Ricardo perished in battling this incident that escalated to a 2nd alarm. Thousands of firefighters from New Haven and across the country arrived at his funeral to honor him and say goodbye. Torres, 30, left a wife and two young children. He was sworn in to the New Haven Fire Department in July of 2019 and was assigned to Engine 6.

Yonkers Firefighters operating in a tower ladder were violently struck by a mis-directed high pressure water stream while fighting a general alarm fire in a 6-story apartment building on Park Ave. that displaced more than 150 families on March 12, 2019. Luckily there were no reported injuries from these 3 firefighters.

Firefighters are seen ventilating the attic of a house fire on Andrew St. in Naugatuck.Naugatuck Fire Department Official. NAUGATUCK, CT - At approximately 9:35 am on Tuesday May 3, 2022, the Naugatuck Fire Department was dispatched to a reported building fire at 49 Andrew Street. First companies on scene found heavy smoke showing from the 2nd and 3rd floor of a large 2 1/2 story wood frame dwelling. An aggressive interior attack was made due to the fact that this was an occupied home, although it was later stated by Naugatuck Deputy Fire Chief Ken Hanks from Rob Polansky of WFSB reporting that all residents had made it out of the structure before arrival of the fire department. Truck companies made it to the roof and performed vertical ventilation to create relief from heat for the firefighters operating on the interior. During this initial stretch of the attack hose line, reports from scanner radio traffic announced the mayday of a downed firefighter on the 2nd floor. He was eventually extricated from the structure and transported to Waterbury Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, some kind of leg injury unknown at the time of the reporting per Chief Hanks. DC Hanks also reported to WFSB that there was heavy damage to the home, and that there were no other injuries from the scene and that included the five people that lived in the home.

ANSONIA, CT - Shortly after 3:00pm on April 29, 2022, the Ansonia Fire Department received multiple calls for a fire at 29 Scotland St. First companies on scene found fire showing on the exterior of a 2 1/2 story wood frame. The fire would quickly extend into the structure and would involve the 1st and 2nd floors before being put under control. Mutual aid responded from Derby and Seymour. Thank you to Matthew Salleme for providing the footage.