Westerly Fire Department

Overturned Vessel Recovered from Pawcatuck River

On Monday, August 3, 2026 at approximately 8:35 p.m., Westerly Dispatch received a report of an overturned vessel in the Pawcatuck River.

Volunteers from the Westerly Fire Department, along with Pawcatuck Fire Department, The Westerly Ambulance Corps, and the Westerly Police Department, responded and located an unoccupied 12-foot vessel overturned near River Bar and the downtown bridge. Shortly afterward, the vessel broke free and became lodged alongside the River Bar building.

Marine 30, PFD’s Marine 2, assisted by crews utilizing our NRS rescue raft, freed the vessel and towed it to the Main Street boat ramp, where it was turned over to the Westerly Police Department.

All units cleared the scene at approximately 9:52 p.m.

Units: Car 31, 33, 34, 391, 394, 396; Marine 30, Squad 3, Special Hazards 1, Engine 3, Utility 2

Mutual Aid: Pawcatuck Fire Department, Westerly Ambulance Corps, Westerly Police Department

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/114/Overturned-Vessel-Recovered-from-Pawcatuck-River

From Torchlight to Steam: The Rise of Westerly’s Fire Service Pioneers

The Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1 was chartered in 1869 as the Westerly Fire Engine Co. 1, though the company soon changed its name to honor its new equipment. While the organization we recognize today formally began in 1869, its lineage in the history of the Westerly Fire Service can be traced back to 1819, when the town purchased its first hand-pump engine from Boston. Later, in 1844, a hand tub was purchased, that same year, the state chartered the Westerly Fire Engine Company. By 1851, the company voted to change its name to the Gazelle Engine Co., and in 1856, they built their first engine house on Union Street, a large, single-bay, wood frame firehouse used to store equipment and hold meetings and drills. For the next 13 years, the men of the "Gazelles" fought countless fires in the growing town of Westerly as well as neighboring Pawcatuck. However, as the community expanded, so did the need for a more organized and modernized fire service.
From 1844 up until this pivotal era, the Gazelles relied only on a hose cart and a "hand-tub" a entirely man powered pumper. Operating this equipment was physically exhausting, requiring members to manually pump the engine and constantly trade places to avoid collapse. The company also appointed several men to a "Flambeau Division." During alarms after sundown, these men would run ahead of and alongside the hand-pulled carts with torches to light the way for the responding firemen.
The Dawn of Steam
The town was growing faster than its manual equipment could handle. A series of devastating fires in the 1850s and early 1860s completely destroyed businesses and homes in the downtown Westerly and Pawcatuck areas. Recognizing the need for advanced, reliable firefighting technology, the Gazelles united with the newly established Westerly Fire Engine Co. 1 in 1869 to become the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1. They named themselves after their new, state of the art steam fire engine, the Rhode Island No. 1.
This revolutionary apparatus was no longer pulled by the men themselves, but by horses. Once on the scene, a fire was lit in its boiler. As soon as a water source, such as a river or cistern, was established and the internal fire built up enough steam pressure, the engine would powerfully propel water through the hoses.
The pace of change accelerated the following year. With the formation of the Westerly Fire District in 1870, the "Ones" disbanded as an independent entity and reformed under the district's official jurisdiction. The first Chief of Department was Charles Maxson, and the first Foreman was William Greene, who had served as the last Foreman of the independent Rhode Island Ones.
Proving Their Worth
The Rhode Island No. 1 was the first steamer in Westerly, purchased and delivered in 1869. The steamer’s first trial by fire occurred on June 4, 1869, at the C. Maxson Co. on Main Street. The fire spread rapidly; according to a June 6 article in the Westerly Sun, the blaze was described as "like a sheet of flames covering the front of the building."
Upon arrival, the engineer got the steamer fired up and the pressure built within just eight minutes. The firemen stretched their hoses and began extinguishing the flames to the great admiration of local civilians and employees. The steamer successfully held back the flames and saved a vital, well known business in the downtown district,a feat a manual hand tub never could have accomplished. This effort saved the riverfront from a devastating conflagration that had the fire load capacity to destroy an entire commercial block. With this victory, the Ones and their favorite piece of apparatus proved their worth, the hand tub would stay, and serve as a supplemental fire suppression apparatus, but going forward the Steam Fire Engine was first line of defense.

A Lasting Legacy
The Ones would face many more fires over the next 14 years before the arrival of the Alert Hook & Ladder Company. During that era, they frequently participated in parades and social events with companies from neighboring towns and cities, most notably the Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co. and the Neptune Steam Fire Engine Co. in Stonington, as well as the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. in Mystic.
The fire company became a foundational staple of the community, and in 1895, they were joined by another engine company, the Cyclones. To this day, the legacy of these Westerly Fire Service pioneers lives on. In the 1890s, Chief John Himes, former captain of the Ones, was instrumental in bringing another cutting edge fire prevention technology to town: the Gamewell Fire Alarm System. This system was set up throughout town, with red pull boxes placed at designated intersections, each identified by a specific number.
In the days before telephones, if a building caught fire, a policeman or civilian could find the nearest pull box, pull the lever, and sound the alarm. The signal, similar to a telegraph system, would travel to the firehouse and trip the bells and ticker tape machine. For example, if the box number was 57, the bell would ring five times, pause, and then ring seven times. The ticker tape would punch five holes, leave a space, and then punch seven holes. The firefighters in the building would hear or read the number, allowing them to know exactly where to go. This system is in place to this day.
Without the fortitude, determination, and foresight of the Rhode Island Ones, the Westerly Fire Department as we know it today simply would not exist

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/113/From-Torchlight-to-Steam-The-Rise-of-Westerlys-Fire-Service-Pioneers

Help Save Lives — Donate Blood

The Westerly Fire Department is encouraging our community to help replenish our local blood supply. Blood cannot be manufactured or imported—it can only come from generous volunteer donors.

Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives, providing lifesaving care for trauma patients, cancer patients, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, and many others who depend on blood transfusions every day.

If you’re eligible, please consider making an appointment to donate. Every donation truly makes a difference.

Learn more and schedule your donation here: https://bit.ly/4vs9Yfj

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your family and friends. Together, we can ensure lifesaving blood is available when our community needs it most.

The Cyclone: The beginning of 130 Years of Service in Westerly

The history of the Westerly Fire Department is etched in the smoke and grit of the late 19th century, a time when the growing industrial town rapidly outgrew its old hand pumpers and Steam Fire become the norm. Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Company No. 2, an organization born out of necessity, political friction, and a commitment to modern firefighting technology.

The Catalyst for Change: The 1870s and 1880s

Before the Cyclone was ever fired up, Westerly relied heavily on the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1 (organized in 1869) and the hand-pumped N.F. Dixon No. 2. However, bitter rivalry and friction between the "Ones" and the "Dixons" led Chief Engineer William P. Coy to officially disband the N.F. Dixon company in 1877.
For nearly a decade, the town lacked a reliable secondary pumping apparatus. The critical turning point arrived in 1883, when a devastating fire tore through P.S. Barber’s Soap Works on Mechanic Street. The blaze exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the town's defense, proving that Westerly desperately needed specialized ladder equipment and additional water-throwing capabilities. While this fire immediately inspired the formation of the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 in 1884, the town's leaders knew they also needed a second modern steam engine to support the Rhode Island Ones. In 1887 the village of Pawcatuck established the P.S. Barber Hose Company, this provided relief in terms of man power and hoses.

1885: The "Cyclone" Arrives

In 1885, the Westerly Fire District purchased a brand-new, state-of-the-art steam pumper to replace the old hand-pumping framework that acted as supplemental water supply for the Rhode Island Ones, This powerful piece of machinery was proudly christened the Cyclone.
The timing was impeccable. That same year, the Westerly Water Works began aggressively installing the town's first network of downtown fire hydrants. The Cyclone, capable of drafting and throwing massive volumes of water compared to human-powered hand brakes, represented the dawn of modern fire suppression in Washington County and it served as a 2nd piece for the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1.

1895: Formal Organization of Company No. 2

For its first ten years, the Cyclone was operated without its own completely distinct, independent organizational structure, it was a second steamer that members of the Ones would use at fires. That changed in 1895.
To maximize efficiency and handle the growing number of structural threats in the busy commercial district, the department officially organized the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Company No. 2 as a separate entity.

Led by its first Foreman, Thomas C. Bell, the organization of this new company was received with immense fanfare across the town of Westerly. There was a palpable sense of civic pride in seeing the local fire defense double its suppression footprint. 10 members of the RI Ones became the first members, along with newly recruited recruits eager to learn and serve the town and its citizens.
The Cyclones wasted no time getting to work. The charter crew immediately began drilling the green recruits on hose line operations, and steamer operations to ensure the company was battle-ready.

A Socially Minded Tradition

From its very inception, Company No. 2 proved to be as dedicated to community engagement as it was to fire suppression. Just before the summer of their founding year, the company ventured down to the shore and built a prominent dance pavilion in Watch Hill to anchor their fundraising efforts. This quickly established the Cyclones' enduring reputation as a deeply socially minded company, a group that knew how to rally public support, throw a community gathering, and fund their own high standards of service. This tradition of being socially minded served the Cyclone’s well in the coming decades, The Cyclone’s have had more members elected to serve as Assistant Chief’s on the Board of Engineers then any other of the three companies in the department, cementing the legacy of the company in departmental history.

Trial by Fire

The Cyclone’s first true trial by fire came in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 5, 1895. Around 2:00 AM, a Westerly police patrolman was investigating the smell of smoke near Main Street in downtown Westerly. According to a contemporary report in The Westerly Sun, the unnamed officer ultimately left the area, believing the odor was simply coming from the chimney of John Berry’s Bakery.
A short time later, the mistake became clear. Two men leaving the Bliven Opera House noticed actual flames erupting from Theodore Chapman’s candy store, located just a short distance from the bakery.
The fire alarm was quickly sounded. Chief Engineer Crandall was first on the scene, followed closely by the Rhode Island Ones, the Cyclones, and the Hooks. The two engine companies wasted no time, rapidly establishing a water supply via a local hydrant and by drafting directly from the river. Within a short period, they had three active streams playing on the flames. Meanwhile, the Hooks went to work with ladders and hooks, opening up the building for the engine companies to extinguish the hidden fire. The P.S. Barbers arrived shortly thereafter, providing vital manpower and extra hose lines from their hose wagon.
Thanks to the coordinated effort, the fire was quickly brought under control, though its official cause was never determined. Led by veteran firemen who had split from the Ones, alongside eager new recruits out to prove their mettle, the Cyclones more than proved themselves a worthy outfit during their very first fire, the addition of a quality crew and steamer saved the strip of stores that could have easily spread and caused greater destruction.

Triumph, Tragedy, and Legacy
The Cyclone Company's history is deeply woven into the fabric of Westerly Fire Department History
Line of Duty Sacrifices: The Cyclone Company holds a somber distinction within the department. The only two line-of-duty deaths in the history of the Westerly Fire Department were both proud members of Company No. 2:
Chief George E. Egger (July 28, 1930)
First Assistant Chief John "Jake" Keena (January 31, 1976).

Today, the spirit of the original 1895 Cyclone’s lives on. The Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2 remains a badge of immense pride, tradition, and generational service within the Westerly Fire Department, and to all members who served the Company.

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/112/-The-Cyclone-The-beginning-of-130-Years-of-Service-in-Westerly

Up the Ladders: Groundbreaking First Summer of Westerly’s "Hooks"

By the summer of 1884, the historic town of Westerly, Rhode Island, was growing rapidly, but its fire protection was missing a critical piece of the puzzle. While the Westerly Fire District relied heavily on the muscle of the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1, they were missing something vital: a dedicated ladder company.
When a bad fire tore through P.S. Barber’s Soap Works on Mechanic Street in 1883, the community faced a harsh reality. Without a specialized ladder crew, firemen couldn't easily vent roofs, rescue trapped citizens, or access upper stories.
Enter the volunteers. In March 1884, a group of civic-minded citizens took matters into their own hands and organized the Alert Hook & Ladder Company Co. 1. Strikingly, they didn't wait for the official Westerly Fire District to build them; they formed as a proud, independent outfit. Though independent, they immediately offered their services to the town.
They were regional pioneers. The "Hooks" were the very first ladder company in Westerly and the immediate Westerly-Pawcatuck area. To find another ladder truck, you would have to travel down the shoreline to the Pioneer Hook & Ladder in Stonington Borough, or further west to the Mystic Hook & Ladder in Mystic, Connecticut.

Foundations, Outfitting, and the 45-Second Drill
The brand-new company set up its first home in a firehouse hastily constructed behind the Leonard House on Commerce Street. To lead them, they chose a veteran who knew exactly how to handle a crew under pressure, Sam Cottrell. Cottrell was a highly respected former member and past foreman of the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1. His expertise bridged the gap between the established engine and the new laddermen.
To get to work, the company needed an apparatus. Financed by $1,250 in donations from prominent local families, they purchased a state-of-the-art, horse-drawn ladder truck built by Rumsey & Co. out of Seneca Falls, New York. It came heavily stacked with an assortment of ladders ranging in size up to 45 feet.
Shortly before the summer heat rolled in, the company outfitted its members in crisp new uniforms capped with sharp, white firefighting helmets. On May 15, 1884, their rigorous training officially began. According to the Westerly Sun, the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. held their very first public drill at the Grist Mill on Main Street. The results were spectacular. The Hooks arrived on the scene, successfully deployed their ladders to their intended spots, and sent a fireman scaling all the way to the Grist Mill's roof in just 45 seconds. As the summer wore on, the company kept up the intense drilling. They quickly bonded with their closest counterparts, the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co.1, the B. F. Hoxie Engine Co, Mystic Hook & Ladder Company of Mystic, the Pioneer Hook & Ladder Co, Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co, and Neptune Steam Fire Engine Co of Stonington Borough traveling to attend regional parades, picnics, and social events—solidifying their place in the local firefighting brotherhood.

The Strategy: Hook and Steam
In the 1880s, the division of labor between an engine company and a ladder company was a matter of life and death. The methods required precise coordination to beat the clock.

This tactical relationship meant everything in 1884. The massive steam engines of the day took time to get to work. When an alarm rang, the steamer had to position itself near a water source (like the Pawcatuck River, or a cistern), drop its hard suction hose into the water, light a literal fire in its boiler, and wait to build enough steam pressure to propel water through the lines.
The laddermen of the Alert Hook & Ladder had a distinct advantage: speed. While the steam pumpers were still building up pressure, the Hooks could gallop up, throw their ladders against the burning walls, and immediately get to work with buckets and hooks. They checked the spread of the fire and got water onto the flames before the engine lines could even go live.

Baptism by Fire: The Vincent Lane Barn Fire
On August 21, 1884, the Alerts finally faced their true test.
It was a hot Monday afternoon, just before 3:00 PM, when a chaotic shout of fire echoed near Vincent Lane, (present day Vincent Ln no longer exists, but it was in the area of the State Boat Launch on Main St across from McQuades)A barn owned by Thomas Barber was heavily smoking. The structure was being rented out as a crowded storehouse for old rags and junk by a local peddler named Isaac Alberts. The fire was roaring heavily on the second floor—a nightmare scenario for a building filled with combustible fabrics.
True to their name, the Alert Hook & Ladder Company sprinted to the scene and arrived first. Assessing the danger, they immediately threw their New York-crafted ladders up against an adjacent barn owned by S.C. Sullivan to prevent the fire from jumping structures. Scaling the roof of the Sullivan barn, the Hooks formed a rapid bucket brigade, pouring water down onto the flames from above to hold the line.
Minutes later, the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. thundered up. They dropped their drafts into the nearby river, fired up the steamer, and got their high-pressure hoses into operation. Working in perfect harmony, the two companies quickly brought the roaring barn fire under control. The later investigation deemed the cause to be spontaneous combustion—the pile of rags had been heavily soaked in oils and left in the summer heat.

A Lasting Legacy
The aftermath of the Vincent Lane fire was a triumph for the new volunteers. The Board of Engineers of the Westerly Fire District and the veteran members of the "RI Ones" gave immense credit to the Alert Hook & Ladder Company, explicitly praising their incredibly prompt response and their discipline at the scene.
That summer proved beyond a doubt that Westerly desperately needed its laddermen. The independent company proved its worth so thoroughly that it was eventually adopted as an official company within the Westerly Fire District.
The Alerts later moved to a shared firehouse on Union Street right alongside their old friends, the Rhode Island Ones. In 1895, they were joined by a brand new outfit—the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. 2. Together, this trio created the historic backbone of the volunteer fire service that protected Westerly for generations to come.

For over 140 years, the Hooks have made a profound and lasting impact on the Westerly Fire Department. Built upon a fierce tradition of service and uncompromising standards, the company has produced generations of veteran firefighters, officers and chiefs of the Westerly Fire Department

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/111/Up-the-Ladders-Groundbreaking-First-Summer-of-Westerlys-Hooks

Last weekend, the volunteers of The Westerly Fire Department proudly honored those who came before us through our inaugural Wreath Laying Ceremony and the 127th Annual Firemen’s Memorial Parade & Ceremony.

Together, we remembered Chief George Egger and First Assistant Chief John “Jake” Keena, our department’s two Line of Duty Deaths, while paying tribute to the generations of firefighters who have faithfully served the Westerly Fire District.

A special thank you to the staffs of River Bend Cemetery and Saint Sebastian Cemetery for their care and assistance in preparing the gravesites for these meaningful ceremonies. We also extend our sincere appreciation to The Westerly Band for proudly leading the parade and helping carry on this longstanding tradition.

Thank you to everyone who joined us as we honored the service, sacrifice, and legacy of our departed members. We will never forget.

This morning, our volunteers had the pleasure of giving Brenden and Miranda a ride to school on a fire truck, while the Westerly Police Department brought Lilly to school in a cruiser!

Both families won these experiences during a State Street Elementary School PTO fundraiser a few months ago.

It was a special way to start the day, and we hope it set the tone for a fantastic day at school!