On April 3, 1962, SEVEN Members of the Norwich, Ct Fire Department responded to what was reported to be a truck on fire at the Van Tassel Warehouse.
What the responding members did NOT know was that the truck was loaded with volatile organic peroxides.
As members began to attack the fire, there was a huge explosion.
That explosion took the lives of FOUR Members.
They were:
Fire Captain, William Sheridan - age 46
Fireman Carl Burke - age 35
Fireman Leonard Counihan - age 43
Fireman Edward Romano - age 36
In addition there were Three Members who were injured.
Lt Thomas LaFreniere
Fireman Thomas Demauro
Both with serious injuries
Also Fireman William Wilson - who was at a hydrant one block away
Lt Thomas LaFreniere and Fireman Thomas DeMauro attribute a puddle of water they landed in from a rain storm the night before and a piece of metal that landed on top of them, for keeping them alive as the fire burned around them.
The explosion leveled the Van Tassel Warehouse, shattered windows - including windows at a high school several blocks away, and was felt for miles around.
It also destroyed TWO City Fire Trucks.
Both Fireman Thomas Demauro and Fireman William Wilson (who retired as a Deputy Chief,) have since passed on.
Lt Thomas LaFreniere is now 93 years old and of course well respected by the active and retired members of the Norwich FD.
I am told that as a result of this incident, The Placarding System came about so that firefighters might have an idea of the cargo being carried in vehicles
Today, April 3, 2022, marks the 60th Anniversary of that tragic event.
Rest In Peace
Captain William Sheridan
Fireman Carl Burke
Fireman Leonard Counihan
Fireman Edward Romano
What the responding members did NOT know was that the truck was loaded with volatile organic peroxides.
As members began to attack the fire, there was a huge explosion.
That explosion took the lives of FOUR Members.
They were:
Fire Captain, William Sheridan - age 46
Fireman Carl Burke - age 35
Fireman Leonard Counihan - age 43
Fireman Edward Romano - age 36
In addition there were Three Members who were injured.
Lt Thomas LaFreniere
Fireman Thomas Demauro
Both with serious injuries
Also Fireman William Wilson - who was at a hydrant one block away
Lt Thomas LaFreniere and Fireman Thomas DeMauro attribute a puddle of water they landed in from a rain storm the night before and a piece of metal that landed on top of them, for keeping them alive as the fire burned around them.
The explosion leveled the Van Tassel Warehouse, shattered windows - including windows at a high school several blocks away, and was felt for miles around.
It also destroyed TWO City Fire Trucks.
Both Fireman Thomas Demauro and Fireman William Wilson (who retired as a Deputy Chief,) have since passed on.
Lt Thomas LaFreniere is now 93 years old and of course well respected by the active and retired members of the Norwich FD.
I am told that as a result of this incident, The Placarding System came about so that firefighters might have an idea of the cargo being carried in vehicles
Today, April 3, 2022, marks the 60th Anniversary of that tragic event.
Rest In Peace
Captain William Sheridan
Fireman Carl Burke
Fireman Leonard Counihan
Fireman Edward Romano
