House Fire Quickly Contained By West Hartford Firefighters

Firefighters worked quickly to knock down a heavy fire at 83R King Phillip Drive Thursday night. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at 7:16 p.m. with a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, heavy fire was showing from an attached garage and the back of the house. Fire was reported on both the first and second floors, and extended into the attic area. Firefighters searched all floors and found no one inside the structure. The scene was placed under control at 7:48 p.m. The house sustained significant fire and smoke damage. The Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating the origin and cause of the fire.
West Hartford Patch

Man Lying Unconscious On Street Had Life Saved By New London Responders

The life of a man found lying unconscious on the sidewalk near Briggs and Vauxhall streets Wednesday morning was saved by a New London Police K-9 officer, New London Fire Department firefighters, medics and an emergency dispatcher. Police posted a 'caught doing something right' post on Facebook. Police K-9 officer Chris Bunkley was on patrol when he saw a man "lying motionless" on a sidewalk, "unconscious and unresponsive." Bunkley quickly called for help from firefighters as he began chest compressions and, continued CPR until fire department medics got there and started "advanced life support measures." The man was rushed to L+M Hospital by New London Emergency Service personnel. He was soon "conscious and talking."
Waterford Patch.com

Police: 2 arrested in hit-and-run of Bridgeport firefighter

Two people have been arrested in connection to the hit-and-run of a Bridgeport firefighter last June, police say. Adrian Cauthen, 33, and Frances Marino, 33, both of Bridgeport, were arrested Thursday. Both Cauthen and Marino were charged with several offenses including evading responsibility, serious physical injury, tapering with physical evidence, interfering with a police officer, third-degree assault and failure to yield to a pedestrian. An off-duty Bridgeport fireman was struck by a car while crossing Stratford Avenue within the crosswalk from the southeast corner to the northeast corner at 11:18 p.m. on June 28. Police say Erique McCalla was heading home from a fireworks display. Police also released an image of the car involved in the hit-and-run after the incident.
News 12 Connecticut

Two people taken to hospital after East Haddam house fire

Crews responded to a house fire on Triangle Drive in East Haddam Thursday morning. Fire officials said a mother and son escaped the fire and were taken to the hospital for evaluation. The fire broke out around 3:50 a.m. on Thursday. The home is located on a cul-de-sac next to the Moodus Reservoir. Flames were knocked down by 6:30 a.m. Firefighters said it took them awhile to knock the fire down because of an apparent hoarding situation. The home was severely damaged. Ice was also an issue so sand trucks were brought in to help. Crews said live wires fell at one point, so Eversource had to remotely cut power so they could safely work. There's no word on a cause. The state fire marshal and the East Haddam fire marshal are investigating.
WFSB-TV CBS 3 Hartford

Wallingford company’s ambulance protection product being used across country

As the Centers for Disease Control and health agencies around the country become more aware about the coronavirus, a Connecticut based firm is taking action. Biocell Ambulance Protection Systems of Wallingford is supplying ambulance companies and medical transporters equipment to protect them from patients with an infectious disease. The company created a plastic sleeve that’s installed in an ambulance when it is called to transport someone that has a contagious infection. Owner Leonard Guercia, a veteran first responder with more than 30 years’ experience, co-designed the barrier system after struggling for hours using duct tape and plastic, lining the inside of an ambulance. It’s now being used by first responders around the country, even Washington state where the nation’s first coronavirus patient is being treated.
WFSB-TV CBS Channel 3

New London Firefighter Promotion & Swearing Set For Friday

Three new firefighters will be sworn in Friday. And longtime, well-known and highly-regarded firefighter Russell Barberi has been promoted to Lieutenant. In a media release, Mayor Michael Passero and Fire Chief Tom Curcio announced the swearing in. Prior to working in New London, he was a member of both the Montville and East Lyme Volunteer Fire departments. He was also a SUBASE firefighter for two years. He was sworn in to the New London Fire Department in 1996. Throughout his career, Barberi has been preparing himself for a leadership position within our department. Besides being a state-certified EMT, he's also a certified fire officer, fire instructor, health and safety officer, and rescue technician with a long list of skills.
Waterford Patch

New Britain man charged with setting fire in another man’s car after drunken fight

A city man faces charges in connection with an incident on Linwood Street in December that allegedly ended with his starting a fire that damaged another man’s car. Donald Cahill, 50, of Slater Road, told police he got into a fight after telling the other man he didn’t know how to treat women. The man didn’t like that comment, so he attacked Cahill, Cahill said. The fight moved through several rooms of the other man’s home and Cahill suffered cuts on his forehead and lip and a gash on the back of his head, Cahill also told police. Cahill said he opened the driver’s-side door of the man’s 2002 Chevrolet Silverado and lit a jacket on fire. When the jacket burst into flames, he left the scene, he said. Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire, and a fire marshal said it appeared to have been intentionally set, the warrant said.
New Britain Herald