Scrapyard Fire Knocked Down With A Lot Of Help From Friends

MONTVILLE, CT — It took a million gallons of water, and the aid of fire companies from four counties as well as the efforts of dispatchers, police, fire officials, investigators, canteens, and public works staffers, to work the scrapyard blaze.

"To those who responded when called, you stepped in, you stepped up, and you did not let us stand alone," the chiefs of four fire companies wrote.

Here's the full letter.

“It is said within the Fire Service that no one stands alone, and yesterday our Mutual Aid partners from throughout New London County, Middlesex County, Windham County and Tolland County proved that sentiment correct for the four independent Fire Companies that serve the Town of Montville.

At 1:13 a.m. this past Friday, Oct. 9, Montville's four independent Fire Companies were dispatched to a large scrapyard fire, on Pequot Road, as Montville's Emergency Communications Dispatchers received multiple calls for flames visible. On arrival, heavy fire from the 5.5 acre scrapyard was easily seen from Route 163, with a large smoke plume moving over 1-395, and an immediate request for apparatus and manpower from Mutual Aid Fire Departments was requested.

Due to the water supply issues, in regard to the location of the incident, and the need for more than a million of gallons of water to fight the blaze, Water Tanker Trucks from surrounding towns were immediately requested to the scene, followed by a further request for addition Tanker Trucks from as far away as North Stonington and Middlefield.

Without the immediate help from our fellow Fire Departments, who responded in the middle of the night to our incident, it would be been extremely challenging to control and extinguish the fire we experienced last night.

Montville's four independent Fire Departments worked seamlessly on the fireground with Waterford's Quaker Hill Fire Company and Norwich's East Great Plain Fire Department. Our tanker operations were quick, smooth and non-stop due to the professionalism and dedication of crews from: East Great Plain, Quaker Hill, Salem, Gardner Lake, Laurel Hill, Preston, Gales Ferry, Bozrah, Colchester, Franklin, Center Groton, Mohegan Tribe Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Griswold, North Stonington, Portland, East Haddam, Westfield, Middlefield, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme, Chester, Baltic, Windham Center and Flanders.

In addition to the Fire Departments who responded to the aid of Montville's four independent Fire Companies, we must express our thanks to the Town of Montville's Fire Marshal's Office, Montville Police, Montville Public Works, the County Fire Coordinators, the State Fire Marshal's Office, P&H Construction, McCarthy Oil, Montville's Water Pollution Control Authority, DEEP HazMat Emergency Response Unit, New London County Canteen 1, and the Town of Montville's Emergency Communications Dispatchers.

Without the dedication of our Mutual Aid Partners and other organizations that responded, and stayed on scene for hours upon hours, the Firefighters who serve Montville would not have been able to operate as quickly and efficiently as we did.

To those who responded when called, you stepped in, you stepped up, and you did not let us stand alone.

Thank you.
Chief Ronald Turner Montville Fire Co #1
Chief Corey Gaetano Mohegan Fire Company
Chief Keith Truex Chesterfield Fire Company
Chief Micah Messer Oakdale Fire Department