Newtown Firefighters Mobilize For Major Monroe Blaze

By Andrew Gorosko

Newtown firefighters mobilized for a major mutual aid response on Wednesday, November 3, to help firefighters in Monroe who were battling a massive blaze that destroyed two businesses on Main Street (Route 25) in that town.

Destroyed by the fire at 193 Main Street were Fairfield County Indoor Range and the Skate Time Roller Rink. The indoor gun firing range held supplies of ammunition that posed hazards to firefighters as they fought the blaze while the shells exploded.

The fire’s cause is being investigated. There were no reported injuries.

Firefighters from multiple area towns were called to aid Monroe firefighters in extinguishing the blaze. The firefighting effort closed down a section of the heavily traveled Main Street, which is a major north-south commuter route in the region.

All five volunteer fire companies in Newtown mobilized to aid Monroe firefighters, said Bill Halstead, who is the Sandy Hook fire chief and Newtown’s fire marshal.

Botsford was the first local fire company to respond to Monroe at 10:25 am. Botsford sent a pumper truck and a tanker truck.

Newtown Hook & Ladder volunteers sent two fire engines and a ladder truck to Monroe. Sandy Hook volunteers sent a ladder truck and a tanker.

Also, Dodgingtown firefighters sent a tanker truck to Monroe.

Hawleyville, Dodgingtown, and Sandy Hook firefighters all were put on standby duty in their respective firehouses.

Sandy Hook staffers went on standby duty in the Hook & Ladder firehouse.

“This is unusual to have one [mutual aid response] this big,” Chief Halstead said.

To back up fire protection in Newtown, Southbury firefighters sent a tanker truck to Sandy Hook’s main firehouse. Also, Danbury firefighters sent a tanker truck to the Dodgingtown firehouse.

Fortunately, there were no fire calls within Newtown while Newtown fire staffers were involved in aiding Monroe firefighters, Chief Halstead said.

Anthony Capozziello, who is Sandy Hook’s assistant fire chief, said firefighters in Monroe faced a building that was fully engulfed in flames. The firefighters involved in the mutual aid response performed excellently, he said.

Botsford Fire Rescue Chief Wayne Ciaccia, whose group was the first fire unit from Newtown to respond to Monroe, said Botsford firefighters worked at the fire as the “rapid intervention team,” or group of firefighters who were prepared to rescue anyone who got into trouble while battling the blaze.

Fortunately, no such rescue was needed, Chief Ciaccia said.

Botsford staffers later helped supply water for the firefighting effort, he added.

About 100 firefighters from various towns responded to the incident, he estimated. “This was big,” Chief Ciaccia said.