This Month (April) in WFD History
 
By Asst. Chief JOSEPH FUSARO
May 11, 2017
 

4-1-1889-Alarm sounded for a fir in the Porter-Loveland Block on High St.

4-30-1899-Alarm, sounded for fire in the Armory Hall on Main St. Damage estimated at $11,000.00.

4-25-1903-Alarm Sounded for a fire in the J.B. Eastman Grist Mill on Commerce St. Pawcatuck firefighters brought a line over a barge to hit fire from the river side.

4-6-1906-Box 28 sounded for a fire in Vose's Barn on Railroad Ave. Barn measured 60 feet x 150 feet.

4-30-1927-Box 56 sounded at 2330 hrs for a fire in the Westerly Fire Station. Station and 3 other buildings destroyed. Old Town Hall and new Town Hall damaged. Lost in the fire was a 1921 Ahrens Fox pumper, the steamers Rhode Island and Cyclone as well as one of the 1914 Hose wagons. Saved were the 1926 Seagrave pumper of the Rhode Island Ones and the Maxim city service ladder truck of the Alert Hook & Ladder Co.

4-25-1928-Box 56 sounded for a fire in The Rhode Island Hotel Fire, Dixon Square at 0030 hrs. Fire began in room 28 in the rear of the hotel. Fire companies form the immediate area as well as from Wakefield, Norwich and New London responded. New London responded with Konomoc Ladder Co. #2 a 1925 Seagrave 65 ft wooden aerial ladder. this was the first fire in Westerly at which an aerial ladder operated.

4-8-1935-Box 33 sounded at 1200 hrs for a house fire on Chase Hill Road in the Ashaway section of Hopkinton. The Fox of the Cyclones responded along with the Brush Truck.

4-16-1946-Box 33 sounded for a fire in the Officers' Quarters at the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Airfield. (Ninigret Park). Westerly and Pawcatuck both sent equipment to assist as well as surrounding communities.

4-29-1946-Box 71 sounded for a fire at 71 Pierce St. in a multi family tenement house. people barely escaped the flames. Damage was extensive.

4-25-1950-Box 325 sounded for a large brush fire on Babcock Road. 20-30 acres was estimated as burned.

4-4-1951-Box 325 sounded for a house fire in Avondale on Ram Point. it took firefighters over 2 hours to control.

4-8-1951-Box 52 sounded for a fire at Olean's Garage 83 Main St. Fire extended to 2 lumber sheds previously damaged by an earlier fire.

4-4-1957-Boxes 3221 and 3222 sounded for a fire in a 3 family tenement house. Heavy damage as well as smoke and water damage throughout.

4-7-1961-Box 1253 sounded at 2105 hrs for a fire in a house on Granite St. Heavy smoke necessitated use of "smoke masks". Fire suspicious.

4-12-1961-Box 1253 sounded at 2110 hrs for a garage fire on Granite St. Fire suspicious.

4-2-1963-Box 4312 sounded at 1340 hrs for house fire which later extended to brush.

4-6-1964-Box 1253 sounded at 1155 hrs for fire at 144 Granite St. Fire concentrated at front of house on 1st floor and extended to the 2nd floor and attic. 91 yr old Eugenio Cercena killed in fire.

4-24-1964-Box 4115 sounded at 2330 hrs for a fire in the Pleasant St. Baptist Church. Fire in basement extended to 1st floor.

4-24-1964-Box 3111 sounded at 2350 hrs for fire in the Majestic Hotel 65 High St. Apparatus not needed on Pleasant St sent to High St with mutual aid from Pawcatuck and Dunn's Corners. Fire confined to the rear room of origin.

4-19-1967-Box 4111 sounded for a fire in the Seidner's Mayonnaise Plant on Friendship St.

4-27-1971-Box 3112 sounded at 1230 for a fire in a locomotive on the north bound tracks of the railroad station on Railroad Ave.

4-14-1975-Box 3122 sounded at 0825 hrs for a fire in the Parkview Housing on Dixon St. Building 6 Apt A. 68 yr old Dora Dziedzic killed.

4-19-1980-Box 4414 sounded for a brush fire at the corner of Ashaway Road and Old Hopkinton Road. the fire burned 3 acres and required 3 engines to respond. The fire was reported by the Shannock Lookout Tower.

4-29-1986-Box 3132 sounded at 0132 hrs for a structure fire at Spruce St. fire on 1st floor extended to 2nd floor. Fire ruled suspicious.

4-5-1992-Box 4432 sounded at 0513 hrs for a structure fire at 3 Midway Ave.

4-23-1993-Box 13 sounded at 0152 hrs mutual aid to Pawcatuck for a structure fire at 38 West Broad St. Westerly responded withe Engines 1, 2 and Ladder 1. Smoky fire required use of large number of air bottles.

4-23-1994-Box 13 sounded at 1348 hrs mutual aid to Pawcatuck for a large brush fire off Oakwood Ave in area known as Blueberry Hill. Initially Engines 3 and 4 responded. Engine 1 was requested 10 minutes later.

4-7-2001-Box 4116 sounded at 2327 hrs for 30 Pond St for a fire in the basement. Heavy damage to basement apt with smoke damage to rest of the home.

4-20-2006-Box 532 sounded at 2207 hrs as a box alarm from Petco 142 Granite St. Upon arrival smoke showing. Electrical fire confined to back room. All pets saved.

4-17-2007-Box 3235 sounded at 0826 hrs for fire at the Westerly Transfer Station. Loader on fire inside the building. Loader was destroyed. Some garbage too.

4-17-2008-Box 13 sounded at 1615 hrs for mutual aid to Pawcatuck for large brush fire between West Vine St and Route 78. Engines 2 and 4 responded.

4-7-2009-Box 4133 sounded at 1639 hrs for a structure fire at 10 Pearl St. Fire started in 2nd floor ceiling fan and spread to attic from high winds. Pawcatuck responded with 1 engine and manpower.

4-27-2014-Box 3141 sounded at 2315 hrs for a fire at 45 Granite St. Fire on outside porch extended to 2nd floor and attic. Mutual aid from Pawcatuck and Watch Hill.

4-15-2015-Box 4155 sounded at 1001 hrs for a structure fire at 53 Beatrice St. in a single family raised ranch. Extensive damage.

4-29-2016-box 4522 sounded at 1438 hrs for a structure fire at 16 Hardwood lane in an unattached in law cottage.