Harwinton Volunteer Fire Department

At about 2:30 AM Sunday, we responded to a one vehicle accident on Campville Hill Road, just up the hill from the Valley Road intersection. A vehicle went off the road and struck the stone ledge. The operator declined transport to a Hospital and had minor injuries. The scene is cleared.

A correction to our previous post on the Harwinton Fair: it was stated our booth has been open for 60 plus years. Actually, we first ran our food booth in 1952, so 2023 marks our 71st year!

The Harwinton Fair is coming up in two weeks, on October 6,7, & 8. And, as we have for the past 60 plus years, our food booth will be open! We are located on the midway, across from the bandstand on the end nearest the main gate. We offer breakfast and lunch. We have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, French fries, and steak sandwiches. For breakfast we offer bacon, egg &cheese or Sausage, egg & cheese sandwiches, home fries, French toast sticks, and donuts. And we have a variety of beverages available- coffee, tea, sodas, water, orange juice, and regular and chocolate milk. So if you are out at the Fair, stop by and say hi and get something for breakfast or lunch or both and help support your local Fire Department!

The accident on Route 118 and Route 8 is cleared and traffic is back to normal.

There is a two vehicle accident on Litchfield Road (Route 118) near the commuter parking lot and Route 8 ramps. Two patients were transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital with non life threatening injuries and one was transported to Waterbury with chest pain. There was a fluid leak also. Traffic is one way alternating as the scene is cleared.

Hurricane Lee is passing well off the east coast. The only impact we may get are some passing clouds and breezy conditions on Saturday. If you have any interests in Cape Cod or Rhode Island, they may see rough surf conditions along with some gusty winds and rain showers, but any hurricane conditions will remain out to sea.

At about 3:30 PM Wednesday we responded to a one vehicle accident in the vicinity of 143 Hill Road (Route 222). A vehicle went off the road striking a utility pole and then rolled ending right side up off the road. The operator was able to exit the vehicle themselves with minor injuries. The pole was cracked but remained upright and all wires stayed up. Eversource responded to replace the pole. The road remains open to through traffic but use caution in the area as Eversource crews may be working.

We remember and honor all those who lost their lives 22 years ago in the terrorist attacks.

Sunday, September 10 update on Hurricane Lee: the probability of us seeing any impacts from this storm is low but with all the variables involved, it cannot be ruled out either. The best advice for now is to continue to monitor the forecasts.

We hope you enjoyed the lightning show Mother Nature provided us the past several nights. Another round can be expected tonight (Sunday). While the storms may have gotten your attention, no major problems have occurred. There has been no widespread damage or power outages. Let's hope for the same this evening. If your power does go out, report it to Eversource at 1-800-286-2000 or on their website if you have Internet service. Never go near any downed wires. If anyone is in immediate danger, if anything is burning or sparking, or if a roadway is blocked, call 911. Other non urgent problems can be reported directly to Eversource at the above number or to the routine number at Litchfield County Dispatch at 860-496-0711.

Friday, September 8th: the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 6:00 PM

Friday, September 8: the National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for our area in effect until 11:00 PM.

While the track of Hurricane Lee is still far from certain, and it is unknown what, if any effects we may get from it, this storm bears watching. It never hurts to be prepared. If you have a stand by generator that tests automatically, when was the last time it ran under a load? It may be prudent to switch your home to generator power the next time it tests to make sure everything is runnng as it should be. If you have a portable generator, when was the last time it was started and run? Now would be a good time to check. Also make sure to have plenty of fuel for it. If you use extension cords, make sure they are the heavy duty type designed to handle the loads of a furnace, refrigerator, water pump, etc. . Cords that are not rated for these uses can quickly overheat and cause fires. Do you have a wet basement? Is your pump in good shape and ready to go to keep it from flooding? Do you have emergency equipment ready? It is always good practice to have a general purpose, dry chemical type fire extinguisher (or several) in your home. Also, a First Aid kit and training in basic first aid and CPR are always good things to have. And finally, how are the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms? Even if they normally operate on AC power, they need batteries to function if your power is out. So even if Hurricane Lee stays out to sea and doesn't impact Connecticut, you will be prepared.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and fellow Officers of Hartford Police Officer Robert Garten who lost his life in the line of duty last night when the cruiser he was in was struck by a vehicle of a fleeing suspect. Our hopes for a quick recovery go out to Officer Brian Kearney who was injured and hospitalized in the same incident.

At 7:15 AM Wednesday we responded to Litchfield Road (Rt. 118) at the Route 8 Northbound entrance ramp for a two vehicle accident. One operator sustained injuries and was transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital by Harwinton Ambulance. There was also a fluid leak that needed to be cleaned up. Traffic was one lane alternating for about an hour. The scene is cleared and traffic is back to normal at this time.

A video of the airplane that made an emergency landing at the old Johnnycake airport on Saturday. Courtesy of Sparrow Drone Aerial Services.

A plane down in Burlington On Saturday 9/2/23 at 1400 hours emergency crews from Burlington VFD and Harwinton VFD responded to a downed aircraft in a cornfield in the area of the once popular…

We wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day!

At about 2:00 PM we responded along with Burlington Fire Department to the old Johnnycake Airport for a possible airplane crash. The FAA at Bradley Airport received a distress call from a small, single Engine plane that it was having mechanical difficulties and the pilot gave coordinates. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the corn field at the old airport. The pilot was the only occupant and he was out of the airplane and not injured. We are clear the scene, the State Police and Burlington FD stillhad units on scene awaiting an official from the FAA.

At approximately 1:30 AM Saturday, we responded to a one car accident in the vicinity of 326 Harmony Hill Road. The car struck and broke a utility pole, bringing the wires down. After the accident, a leaking fuel tank caused the vehicle to catch on fire. The operator escaped with minor injuries. The fire was extinguished and the vehicle has been removed, but Harmony Hill remains closed between Silo Drive and Cotton Hill Road in New Hartford while Eversource crews work to restore power.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. And wherever your travels take you, remember if you see an emergency scene, highway work area, or a tow truck or other highway assistance vehicle helping motorists, SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER! Responding to incidents on highways have become one of the most hazardous calls for emergency personnel, and highway work zones. Do your part to make sure everyone stays safe!

As we head into September, a few notes:
Now is a good time to prepare for the coming heating season. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary. Make sure all vents for propane appliances are clear and open. Have your furnace cleaned and serviced. This not only will reduce the chances of a fire or CO emergency, it will save you on heating fuel bills. If you burn wood, check and clean any stove pipes. And finally, if you plan on using space heaters, make sure to turn them off if nobody will be home, and keep them clear of any combustibles.

Open Burning season will resume on October 1. Permits to burn brush piles will be issued again on that date. Remember to check the fire danger before burning. For additional information or for a permit, Open Burning Official William Rinko can be contacted at 860-485-9744. If you get the voice mail, please leave a message with your name and telephone number and he will return your call.

Our third and final fundraiser of 2023 will be our food booth at the Harwinton Fair on October 6,7,& 8. If you are out at the Fair, stop by our booth on the midway across from the bandstand for Breakfast or lunch.

Finally, with the Labor Day weekend approaching and schools back in session, we urge all drivers to drive safely! Slow down, avoid distractions, and watch for those school buses.

Our Firehouse siren is operable again. It should be going off at Noontime so you don't miss your lunch! 😁

Region 10 schools will be back in session on Wednesday, and most other area schools also return this week, so we urge all drivers to slow down, watch for buses and children, especially in school zones. And never pass a school bus with red lights flashing! This puts everyone involved in danger, and if that is not enough, now that most buses are equipped with cameras, the chances of getting a hefty fine is high. Drive safely!

Route 4 is reopened to normal traffic at this time. There was a UPS delivery vehicle that caught fire. Another small fire reignited as the wrecker was towing the vehicle. Units are on scene on Route 118 near the commuter parking lot attending to that. There were no injuries.

There is a vehicle on fire near the intersection of Route 4 & Route 118. Route 4 is closed in the area.

At about 11:45 PM Wednesday, we responded to a one vehicle rollover Litchfield Road(Route 118) near the intersection of Wildcat Hill Road. The operator was able to exit the vehicle themselves and had minor injuries and declined transport to a Hospital.

On Monday evening, our Tanker & a crew attended a water supply drill that our neighbors in Northfield held. The mutual aid system has been in place for many years, and has proven its worth countless times. We stand ready to help our neighbors whenever needed, as they stand ready to help us!

Some of you may have noticed our siren has not been going off recently for fire calls or at Noontime. It is temporarily out of commission, it may have taken a lightning strike, but we have it down, and we are working to either repair or replace it.

At about 3:45 PM Saturday we responded to Wintergreen Senior Housing for an activated fire alarm. There was no emergency, it was caused by a pot that boiled over on a stove. The apartment was ventilated and the alarm reset.

We had another very successful chicken barbecue! A call for a serious motor vehicle accident came in just as we were getting ready to start, leaving us a bit shorthanded, but of course emergency calls take precedence. But we still had enough help to serve over 500 chickens! We thank everyone who came out to support us, it is very appreciated. And a big thank you to all of our Members who not only put on a successful fundraiser but also responded to two calls for help with full crews- the accident on Route 8 and a fire alarm at the Wintergreen senior housing. There was no fire, it was a malfunctioning alarm. And this of course includes our Ladies Auxiliary who always put in a lot of work at our fundraisers.

Saturday, August 12: the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Litchfield County in effect until 9:30 PM.

At just after 4:00 PM Saturday, we responded to Route 8 Northbound just north of exit 42 for a one vehicle accident. One vehicle had gone off the road. There were three occupants, two with serious injuries that needed to be removed from the vehicle and one with minor injuries that was out of the vehicle. Two were transported by Lifestar Helicopter to Hartford Hospital. The accident is under investigation by the State Police. Route 8 Northbound was closed between exits 42 & 43

The chickens are hitting the grill! Hope to see you soon.

Today is our annual Chicken Barbecue! If you have already purchased tickets, thank you very much for supporting the HVFD! If not, tickets are still available. We will be at the Firehouse starting around 9:00 AM, so you are welcome to stop by or call 860-485-9336 to get yours. Again, there are usually a limited number of tickets available at the door, and they sell out quickly. And you can choose to eat at the Firehouse, or take your dinner to enjoy at home. And for those who are disabled or just have limited mobility, we can have someone assist you with transporting your meal either to your table or to your vehicle if taking out, please ask any Member.

Our Annual Chicken Barbecue is tomorrow! There are still tickets available. We will be at the Firehouse all day tomorrow starting at about 9:00 AM, so you can stop by and buy them. There will be a limited number available at the door, but they usually go fast, so pre-buying is highly recommended. There will also be the usual array of raffle prizes, thank you to all of the local businesses & individuals who have donated prizes. We hope to see you tomorrow, and thank you to everyone who supports our fundraisers,we always get great support from our community, and we appreciate it!

At about 2:00 AM Thursday, we responded to South Road, just north of the bridges for a motor vehicle accident. One vehicle went off the road and struck a utility pole, breaking the pole and bringing down wires. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported by Harwinton Ambulance to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Primary electrical lines were down and power was out in the area. South Road is closed to through traffic at the parking area by the lower bridge that is used by people hiking and fishing, and near House number 335 on the north side. Eversource crews were on scene working to repair the damage.

We will be at the Fire House on Thursday evening starting around 7:00 setting up for Saturday's Barbecue. If you still need tickets, you are welcome to stop by and get them! Thank you again to everyone who supports our fundraisers!

Just before 3:00 PM Wednesday we were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in the area of 400 Burlington Road (Route 4). One vehicle experienced a tire failure, causing it to go off the road and strike a fire hydrant. The operator was not injured. The hydrant was broken off but the valve remained intact and no water was leaking. Aquarion Water Company was notified. The scene is cleared at this time.

At just after 6:00 PM Monday, we responded to a one car accident on Catlin Road near the intersection of Pine Ridge Drive. A vehicle had gone off the road. The driver declined transport to a Hospital.

Coming up in one week! Have you gotten your tickets yet? They are still available from any HVFD Member, by calling 860-689-3833 or you can stop by the Firehouse on Monday night. Again, we usually have limited tickets at the door, and they sell out quickly, so pre buying is recommended. Thank you for supporting our fundraisers!