Many of these audio clips are the property of Mr. Ignatius Kapalczynski affectionately known to most of us as "Iggy" When it comes to the American fire service, Iggy has got to be one of the most knowledgeable persons I know. I greatly appreciate that he gave us permission to use these clips on our website. I hope that you enjoy listening to these clips as much as I did. We will be adding clips as time goes on.
I would also like to acknowledge Walt Hemmerling (Retired UCHCFD) for taping and saving many of these audio clips. Walt has contacted me and provided much info on the incidents below. Thanks Walt for all of your contributions!
1-1-2 Broad & Ward Streets. July 3, 1984 Box 472. D/C Edmond Kureczka was in District 1. Four story brick vacant building.
1-1-2 Woodland & Sargent Streets. April 22, 1981 Box 715. 314-316 Sargent Street. Occupied three story brick.
3-3 Clark & Judson Streets. April 10, 1981 Box 85. 139-147 Clark Street & 2-10 Judson Street. D/C Nolan (Big Dan) was still on the job. "The Alarm Room News" is heard giving a report on the fire over their radio channel. Remember "The Alarm Room News?" What a great publication.
3-3 Box 541, 20 Wethersfield Avenue. 3/10/1982 Multiple calls for a structure fire. Engine 1 couldn't get off the floor and Engine 6 gets in first. District 3, and Engine 4 are also heard at this job.
10-3 Box 415, 50 Putnam Street. Working fire. Seems that they were having radio problems that day. Engine 7 takes in a dumpster fire at the Stowe Village housing project.
3-3 PLUS, Hawthorne Street Fire. 6/23/1999. Truck 5 hooks it on arrival. Heavy fire showing from a very large four story vacant manufacturing building. Many other fires in the area due to flying embers. Several volunteer fire departments were called in which is a rarity. Part 1 of 4 has radio traffic from the Fire Dispatch talkgroup.
3-3 PLUS, Hawthorne Street Fire. Part 2 of 4 has radio traffic from the Fire Dispatch talkgroup.
3-3 PLUS, Hawthorne Street Fire. Part 3 of 4 has radio traffic from the Fire Incident 3 talkgroup.
3-3 PLUS, Hawthorne Street Fire. Part 4 of 4 has radio traffic from the Fire Incident 3 talkgroup.
3-3 17 Albany Ave. Hartford Lumber. 6/08/1998. Large lumberyard with several large buildings. Part 1 of 2 has the radio traffic from the Fire Dispatch talkgroup.
3-3 17 Albany Ave. Hartford Lumber. Part 2 of 2 has the radio traffic from the Fire Incident 1 talkgroup.
3-3 19 Belden Street. June 28, 1982. Fire in a large apartment building with a collapse that sends several members to the hospital. (Audio starts out muffled but gets better).
Found a better copy of the 19 Belden Street fire and 74 Albany Ave which came in a short while later. This audio starts just before Chief Stewart calls for accountability and continues longer than the tape above. Radio traffic on channel 4 can be heard as well.
1-1-2 8 Mather St. 8/21/1987
1-1-2 185 Asylum St. CityPlace. 1987
These audio clips are from the program, "The Broadcaster at 40." A retrospective of WTIC radio on their 40th anniversary. The news clips are from major fires and events that are significant in the history of the Hartford FD and the City of Hartford. The program originally aired in February of 1965.
Take note of the quality of the descriptive information that is given in the newscasts of yesterday, and compare it to what passes for news reporting today.
These tapes are from my private collection and are not to reproduced in any form. They are watermarked to detect piracy.
Saint Joseph's Cathederal fire.
Hartford Hospital fire.
The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus fire.
The Charter Oak Bridge collapse.
The Niles Street Hospital fire.
