West Hartford Fire Department Calls for Sept. 11 - 25

The following is a summary of the West Hartford Fire Department's activities from Sept. 11 - 25.

September 12, 2013 - At 9:33 p.m. Quint 3, Engine 1, Quint 2, and a Battalion Chief responded to 61 St. Augustine St. for a report of a house that was struck by lightning and on fire. Quint 3 from 1068 New Britain Ave. arrived within three minutes and found a smoke condition inside the residence. Engine 1 from 561 Prospect Ave. secured a water supply using a fire hydrant. Firefighters discovered an active fire burning on some of the structural elements of the home. WHFD personnel quickly extinguished the fire limiting the damage to original area of origin. Damage was estimated under $1,000.

September 13, 2013 - At 3:58 p.m. Engine 1, Quints 2 and 3, and a Battalion Chief were dispatched to 24 Hugh St for a report of natural gas leaking inside the home. Engine 1 arrived within three minutes and found the occupants outside indicating they smelled natural gas inside the home. Engine 1 crew checked the entire structure using a calibrated gas detector which is carried on all West Hartford fire apparatus. Connecticut Natural Gas company was requested to verify all the appliances in the home were working correctly. Engine 1 crew remained with the occupants until the CNG representative arrived and checked the appliances.

September 12, 2013-  Members of the West Hartford Fire Department participated in a Train the Trainer class presented by the Training Division at Corona’s Auto Recycling on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. With the purchase of new vehicle rescue equipment seven members of the department were trained in the use of the new equipment. These seven members will present the training department wide during the month of October. The new equipment will be located on Engine 1 at 561 Prospect Ave. Engine 1 is a 1990 vehicle that is being replaced with a 2013 model in November.

September 13, 2013 - Quint 4 from 2459 Albany Ave. pressure tested all 1,000 feet of their 5-inch water supply line. As required by national standards all five West Hartford fire apparatus test their 1000 feet of five inch water supply line annually. This is performed by the members of the West Hartford Fire Department.

September 16, 2013 - At 9:27am Engine 1 and 2, Quint 3, and a Battalion Chief responded to 1037 Boulevard at Pizza Hut for a report of a kitchen fire. Engine 1 from 561 Prospect Ave. arrived within three minutes and found nothing visible from the exterior of the building. Engine 2 secured a water supply in the event it was needed and Quint 3 staged awaiting instructions. The workers from Pizza Hut indicated that there was a fire in one of the fryolators. WHFD personnel investigated and found no fire. The appliances were isolated and the Health Department notified.

September 16, 2013 - At 5:31 p.m. Quint 4 responded to the intersection of Miller and Arden for a report of a vehicle that was on fire. Quint 4 from 2458 Albany Ave. arrived within three minutes and found a passenger vehicle with smoke coming from the engine compartment. Quint 4 personnel quickly extinguished the fire limiting the damage to some electrical components.

September 16, 2013 - At 11:40 p.m. Engine 1, Quint 2 and 4, and a Battalion Chief responded to 5 Highland St. for a report of a fire in an electrical panel.  Engine 1 from 561 Prospect Ave. arrived within two minutes and found an electrical panel that was hot to the touch with arcing wires inside. WHFD personnel used a Thermal Imaging Camera to verify the hazard was isolated to the electrical panel and had not spread into the walls. The power was isolated and the hazard eliminated. 

September 17, 2013-At 8:42pm Engine 1 responded to 64 Belknap Road to assist a homeowner whose hot water tank has split and she could not secure the water. Engine 1 arrived and found the oil fired hot water heater tank had split and was leaking into the basement. 

September 16, 2013 - At 7 a.m. Quint 4 responded to 324 North Steele Road for a report of a power line burning. Quint 4 arrived and found a primary power transmission line arcing onto a tree branch. All vehicle and pedestrian traffic was stopped in the area until Connecticut Light and Power could make the area safe.  This was accomplished with the assistance of a West Hartford Police Patrol Officer.

September 18, 2013-At 10:50am Quint 2 was dispatched to North Main Street at Wyndwood Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries. A WHFD safety officer arrived within two minutes and updated Quint 2. The accident was a near head-on collision with damage to both vehicles. All occupants were OK and waived medical treatment. Quint 2 stood by with the vehicles monitoring the hazards until a towing company could remove them.

September 19, 2013 - At 2:22 a.m. Quint 4 responded to 160 Simsbury Road for a report of an occupant who had fallen in their apartment. Quint 4 arrived and made entry into the apartment and found an elderly occupant who had fallen off the bed and was unable to get up. Quint 4 personnel assessed the resident for any injuries and finding none assisted the resident back into bed.

September 24, 2013 - At 8:30 p.m. Quint 3 responded to 25 Brixton St. at EnviroCycle for a report of a large mulch fire. Quint 3 from 1068 New Britain Ave. arrived and found a large fire burning on the mulch pile behind the West Hartford Fire Department Training Facility on Brixton St. Quint 3 which is a 100-foot ladder truck used its elevated water stream to extinguish the fire. Personnel from EnviroCycle were notified of the incident. 

Fore more information, contact Lt. Kevin W. Munson at 860-561-8300 or email at kmunson@westhartford.org.