Willimantic Ct, 2nd Alarm+ 02-09-26

Willimantic Fire responded to the area of Pleasant and Mountain, for a reported building fire. First due reported smoke coming from the eves. Command quickly upgraded it to a 2nd alarm. The building was a 25x200+ former mixed use. With limited 2 1/2 sides to access. The center was well involved and quickly burned through the roof and extended to the rest of the building. Do to know conditions the fire was fought in the defensive mode. One occupant was transported. Crews worked the fire for a few hrs before being brought under control.

More photos @ Laddsphotos 

 

 

Remembering, Rob Brown. 02-07-2026

 Today we gathered to remember one of the best, Rob Brown. He will be missed by more then you would think. Within the fire service and Eastern Ct. Its still hard to think a man this strong can be taken this quick. Rob has now joined the fire service, in heaven with some of the greats. He will always be remembered. 

        

 

Robert F. Brown – It is with heartfelt sorrow that Rob's family announced his passing on January 24, 2026, after a difficult struggle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 69 years old. Rob was born on September 30, 1956, in Middletown. He was the son of Frederick Palmer Brown and the late Patricia (Dawson) Brown. Rob grew up in Colchester and graduated from Norwich Tech. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Sanzone on August 30, 1980. The couple made their home in Colchester where they raised their family and became actively involved with the community.

He was a lifelong member of the Colchester Bible Baptist Church and had a personal strong sense of faith and devotion. Rob was an accomplished carpenter, but his true passion and successful career was as a fire fighter. Rob began as a volunteer and quickly earned his rank, becoming the first paid Fire fighter in the Colchester Fire Department. His accomplishments were widespread over the years he served. He helped build the Fire house which is currently in use by the Colchester fire department. He was an instructor for firefighting 1 & 2 and was a state fire instructor as well. Rob earned the Life Saving Award during an emergency call while on duty. He was Fire Fighter of the Year in Colchester on two separate occasions. He was one of the first to volunteer to go to New York City after 911 to help with cleaning up, search, and rescue. Most recently, Rob was actively involved with the Salem Fire Department, serving as a Captain with the department there. In other areas, Rob was instrumental and one of the best customers at Salem Valley Farms where he had an ice cream named after him. Red Rose in Colchester was also a recipient of his dedication to sweets. Most importantly, Rob was a family man, who selflessly would stop at nothing to provide, protect, love, and serve them. A trait which he extended to his entire community with compassion and generosity.

Rob will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by all who knew him, especially his beloved wife of 45 years, Donna; his children, Samantha and her husband, Stephen Elias of Cranston, RI, Robert F. Brown III and companion, Jamie Sacilowski of Colchester; siblings, Jon Brown of Colchester, Kevin (Christina) Brown of Colchester, Karen (Hutch) Hutchins of Salem, Debbi (David) Hockman of Spring Grove, PA, sister-in-law, Heidi Brown of Enfield; grandchildren, Carter and Colton Elias, Remi and Cora Brown; numerous extended family and a host of friends through the Colchester and Salem Fire Departments and communities. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by a brother, Jeff Brown.

 

Norwich, Ct. 2nd alarm. 01-30-25

 Norwich, With E-62 and Ladder 5 was Dispatched to Sunny Side Ave for a reported fire, caller was from the opposite Street and did not know the address. Car-6 arrived to find a dwelling with fire showing and declared a working fire. Mohegan Tribal Fast was added. Crews Arrived an stretched in as the first hydrant was found to be frozen and the 4th due engine laid in from Rt-12. At that time Car -1 told Bat-1 to upgrade the call to a 2nd alarm. E-33, R-5, Tower 25 and Subase as 2nd FAST. The fire was under control in about a hr.

 More photos @ Laddsphotos

East Great Plain, W/F+ 01-23-26

 East Great Plain, Fire was dispatched to 476 New London Turnpike for an unknown type fire. Bat-1 added Norwich HQ, First arriving officer reported heavy smoke from the building. A working fire was declared, This added Mohegan Tribal FAST and 2 Engines from Yantic. Crews worked the 1st and 2nd floors as tower 1 opened the roof, after a short time fire vented from the roof, the was knocked down a few minutes later. NFI

 More photos @ LaddsPhotos

 

Franklin Ct, excavator fire. 12-31-25

 Franklin Ct, Dec 31, 2025 around 10:30, Rt 32 #828. Lebanon and Franklin, operate at an excavator fire. More photos at Laddphotos

 

Norwich Ct, Dwelling fire 12-24-2025

 Norwich, Ct December 24, 2025. Norwich fire dispatched Norwich, With Engine 33 (Yantic) East Great Plan L-5 and Rescue 5 and Laurel Hill engine 61 along with Mohegan Tribal FAST. to 15 Platt Ave for a reported building fire. Eng 62(operating as Eng-2) Arrived first to find heave fire from 3 sides of the building to the rear. All occupants reported out of the building. Companies worked the fire for several hrs, the building was heavily damaged. NFI at this time. 

Note: limited photos, Camera issues. More photos @ LaddsPhotos 

 

Sprague, Ct Dwelling fire 12-18-25

 Baltic Fire with M/A was dispatched to 61 Bushnell Hollow Road, for a house fire, Car 54 arrived to find a working fire in a 1story dwelling. Eng124 arrived and placed a 2.5 and 1.5 inch handlines into operation. As the crews knock down the fire via a picture window, a 2nd crew forced the door to make entry into the living room, to start knocking down the rest of the fire. Tower 154 was assigned ventilation. The fire was knocked down in short time.  

 More Photo@ Laddsphotos

 

Montville, Ct. 115 Cottonwood Ln. Dwelling fire 12-15-25

 Around 11 am, All town of Montville and M/A companies was dispatched for a reported Basement fire, from a 2 story dwelling. PD arrive to find fire showing from the basement window from the A Side of the dwelling. Fire due engine arrived to these conditions and placed a 1 3/4 handline in operation. Crews worked the basement and first floor of the dwelling. Command requested Tribal fire, to vented the roof. Crews had the fire knocked down in a short time. The fire is under investigation. 

More Photos @ Laddsphotos

 

 

Colchester Ct, 2nd Alarm 12-4-25

 Colchester Fire with M/A was dispatched to 195 North Pond Way, for a reported fire to the rear of the dwelling, First due reported heavy fire to the rear with fire through the roof. Shortly after a 2nd alarm was requested. (More photos later tonight)

 

Foxwoods, 5th Alarm+ 11-18-25

 Around 8pm a working fire was declared at David Burke Restaurant, The fire quickly ran several hundred ft of ventilation Duck-work. This was a manpower based fire, the fire reached a 5th or 6th alarms. Official total has not been released, Like the fire 20 years ago, Companies that never see each other at incidents worked side by side for several hrs to bring the fire under control. Limited information has been released. I will post a couple of outside photos from a few people today.

 

Bozrah Ct, Dwelling fire 11-5-25

Around 03:40 Bozrah Fire And M/A was dispatched to a house fire to the 300 block of Fitchville RD, for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, crews found a 1st residential building and a 2 story garage well involved. NFI at this time. (cell phone photos)

 

 

Franklin Ct, Mobile Home fire 11-01-25

 Franklin and M/A was dispatched around 01:40 Am for a reported garage fire next to a home, Car 24 arrived to find a fully involved Mobile home next to a garage. Within 5 mins the building collapsed. The fire was confined to the building of origin and was a total loss. Crews from Franklin, Baltic, Bozrah, Yantic and Lebanon worked the scene, Several departments provided tankers, Franklin, Bozrah, Lebanon, East Great Plans, Scotland, Laurel Hill, Lisbon with a couple I missed worked water supply. The City of Norwich provided FAST.