Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob on January 12, 2008 at 11:18pm

City of Groton, 3rd alarm 01-09-08
Around 12:30 the City of Groton responded for a reported fire at 213 Thames St. Kens Tackle shop (a 2 story brick shop and apartments with a 3/4 exposed basement). Before arrival a Box plus was transmitted, the 2nd alarm was transmitted with mins of arrival. Companies found heavy smoke conditions on all floors, with a active fire in the basement. Groton firefighter were hampered by a heavy reinforced metal door to the basement, they used the Hurst tool to gain entry to the basement. Then along with CGFD attempted repeatedly to gain access to the main body of fire. During this time PGFD members search the 2nd floor apartment as smoke push through the floor boards. Subase FD and others vented the plate glass store windows to release heavy brown smoke from the 1st floor with mins Heavy fire took hold of the tackle shop. OMFD, EDFD with help set up Blitz fires and 2.5s to knock down heavy fire condition venting and spreading to the upper floors. For the next few hours firefighters from many companies worked to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. Some units operated on scene for about 20hrs. Units operating on scene were from City of Groton, Poquonnock Bridge, Noank, Mystic, Old Mystic, Center Groton, Electric Boat, Subase, Gales Ferry, New London, Mohegan Tribe FAST, Groton Ambulance, L&M Medics, Canteen 1 & Providence Canteen, W-41, W-55, W-94 were in staging and/or covering the City district.

Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on January 19, 2008 at 7:16pm

From the Caller Times

Eyewitness to Navy copter crash
'It sounded like a struggling helicopter', man says
By Dan Kelley (Contact)
Originally published 04:00 p.m., January 17, 2008
Updated 04:00 p.m., January 17, 2008


STORY TOOLS
E-mail story Comments iPod friendly Printer friendly Print with Comments RELATED STORIES
Three killed as Navy copter crashes More Local News
Families learn of crash victims Romo? Whoa! Let's go! Winning steers bring big bucks SHARE THIS STORY
CORPUS CHRISTI — David Herrera was home with his wife and son Wednesday night when he heard a loud whumping passing over his house on County Road 20B. It was, he said, “too close.”

“It sounded like a struggling helicopter,” he said.

A former Marine, he said “It’s been a long time since I heard that sound.”

He walked outside and saw what he thinks was the helicopter’s rotor lights through the night sky. He smelled burnt fuel.

“It was kind of smell you get when a bad exhaust system passes you on the highway,” the 34-year-old photographer and former Marine said. “At that point, I said, " ‘It has to be low.’”

Then he saw the lights dip down. And he heard and saw an explosion, about a mile and a half from his house.

He watched the flames shoot up. Then he saw flares - two of them, he thinks about 30 seconds apart.

“It was as if someone is trying to get attention as if someone is trying to say, " ‘there is movement,’” Herrera said.

He called 911, but someone else in the vicinity beat him to it.

There has been speculation that the helicopter hit a television tower, but Navy officials are still investigating the cause of the crash. Herrera said he didn’t hear anything like a loud bang before the helicopter passed over his home, and didn’t hear a sound that indicated to him that the aircraft hit the tower. But he can’t, he said, rule out an impact with the tower as a part of the crash.