12/21/22 New Haven, CT – Firefighters from the hill section arrived to find heavy fire showing from the first floor of a private dwelling. They also received reports that occupants were still inside. Hand lines were quickly stretched to knock down the heavy volume of fire emanating from the front porch. Searches were conducted by the trucks and rescue before companies had to back out in favor of an exterior attack. The fire rapidly extended to all floors. It took firefighters about an hour to bring the fire under control. Two civilians were taken to area hospitals with smoke inhalation. They were removed prior to the fire department’s arrival with the help of neighbors. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
10/12/22 Shelton, CT – A civilian burning cardboard let his fire get out of control, and it spread quickly, igniting nearby piles of cardboard and tires. This pile exposed to the connex box, which it was stacked up against. The box became fully involved and exposed to two autos behind it. Two hand lines and a multi-versal were used to knock down the heavy volume of fire. Companies had extensive overhaul. The town fire marshal is investigating. Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking
11/29/21 Pearl River, NY – Firefighters originally received this call as an AFA, but companies found fire involving the insulation in the basement of the Rise Shooting Range. Firefighters had a difficult time accessing the fire, which continued to grow and intensify. Multiple holes were made in the store floors in an attempt to fill the basement with hi-ex foam. This attempt was futile.
Twelve hours later, conditions continued to worsen forcing an exterior attack to be undertaken. Three aerial ladders, a tower ladder, and multiple 2.5″ hand lines operated into multiple storefronts for hours. The fire eventually erupted in various stores and through the roof before being brought under control after a wrecking crew was brought in to expose hot spots.
New Haven Electrical Substation fire 08/12/20 New Haven, CT – New Haven firefighters responded on a verbal for smoke in the area. Once on the scene they transmitted the box for a fire in a United Illuminating Substation on Water St. Companies could only stand by with precautionary hand lines as UI workers de-energized the equipment. The department utilized its chemical/foam unit to flow Purple K. This had little effect and ultimately foam was used to douse the fire and equipment. This also caused a portion of downtown New Haven to loose power.
08/27/20 New Haven, CT – A verbal from a state police officer on patrol in the area of I-91 reported a large header in the area of Exit 8-9. A still was put out for an auto fire in a junkyard sending an engine and truck. The box was transmitted shortly after the arrival, per the battalion on the scene. Multiple hand lines were stretched along with one tower ladder put into operation. The fire was in a large pile of scrap metal and junk cars. It was brought under control in about an hour.
06/13/20 Shelton, CT – Multiple departments in the valley battled this fire at the former Star Pin Company that consumed several multi-story, mill buildings.
Glenn Duda photo
The fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m. and by the time first-due companies arrived, they had a portion of the complex with heavy fire throughout. The fire quickly spread to the other buildings within the complex, followed by several structural collapses. Companies had access problems since the factory was built river side and there was only a narrow street where they could operate.
Glenn Duda photo
A heads up move by one of the Shelton MPOs involved drafting from the canal under the street through a manhole. Several ladders, multi-versals, and hand lines worked for hours to darken down the fire. It was not brought under control until eight hours later.
Glenn Duda photo
The buildings were built in 1875 and the company operated until 1975 making hair pins. The Star Pin Company was founded on September 25, 1866 and originally ten employees produced pins and hair pins within a 5,000 square foot, frame mill in the Wells Hollow section of Shelton. One of the founders and early officers of the company, James C. Hubbard, initially operated a pin shop in North Haven and is credited with inventing one of the first automated hair pin making machines in the United States. Hubbard’s son, Henry Franklin Hubbard, joined the company during the 1890s and was active with the firm for 57 years. During this time he attained the title of ‘dean of American pin makers,’ after designing the machine that produced the first bobby pins. The company’s early success caused it to outgrow its initial factory and in 1875 they erected a three-and-a-half-story, brick mill along the Housatonic Water Company’s recently constructed canal. This structure comprises the first three stories of the present complex’s central block. It was raised to four stories in 1906. By this time the firm employed over 125 workers. The company’s peak came during the 1920’s, whereupon 400 employees toiled within 125,000 feet of total floor space. By the early 1950’s, the company also produced folding paper boxes and grew to 140 employees. In 1973, a Hartford Courant article highlighted the fact that the Star Pin Company was one of the last firms in the state continuing to employ water powered generation, which it used to generate lighting. Following the closure of the Star Pin Company, its Canal Street plant passed to the Genie Manufacturing Company, a division of North American Philips.
New Haven 1319 Ella T. Grasso Blvd dwelling fire 06/26/20 New Haven, CT -Companies were clearing up from a small fire in a dwelling not far away when this box was transmitted. Engine 9 arrived first- due reporting heavy fire, in the rear number two floor of this large, occupied, private dwelling. Multiple lines were stretched as trucks opened up and performed topside ventilation. The fire quickly traveled into the third floor and attic before being brought under control. All hands operated for about an hour to bring the fire under control. All searches proved negative, with no reported injuries. The fire is being investigated by the marshals.
