Second Building Burns on Woodstock Castle Property in Less Than 3 Weeks

Woodstock Conn. (3/11/23)- Firefighters responded to the Woodstock Castle Property for the second structure fire in less than three weeks. Both buildings were too far gone for firefighters to be able to save when they arrived.

At approximately 1253 pm on Saturday, March 11th, 2023, the Muddy Brook Fire Department and mutual aid companies were dispatched for a reported barn fire on the Woodstock Castle Property, 480 Brickyard Rd. The fire was reported by a passing motorist.

According to Muddy Brook's Deputy Chief Travis Blair, crews were clearing a medical call in their district when the 1st alarm assignment was dispatched. The first unit arrived minutes later and reported a fully involved 40x70ft building. Upon confirming a working fire, an automatic 2nd alarm was transmitted [based on the department's alarm card instructions].

The initial fire units to arrive on the scene utilized deck guns and blitz fires to flow large amounts of water, knocking down the bulk of the fire. Following the initial knockdown crews switched to ladder pipe operations hitting all remaining fire from above. Crews overhauled for over an hour, using hand tools and handlines, to extinguish the final remaining hot spots. A water supply was set up utilizing a dry hydrant in front of the castle and was supported with multiple tankers.

Chief Blair finished by saying "Everybody did a terrific job. I'd like to thank [our mutual aid companies] very much. We had a good system of utilizing hand lines, then clearing people and coming in with the ladder pipe. Job well done by all."

This fire comes less than three weeks after a residential structure on the property burnt on February 23rd, 2023.

The building appeared to contain two wood furnaces, surrounded by stone, as well as a large amount of wood fuel stored under a wood and metal building.

This incident is under investigation by the Connecticut State Fire Marshal's Office.

Units who responded, or were dispatched, included the Muddy Brook Fire Department, Woodstock Vol Fire Assoc. Sta 76, Bungay Fire Brigade, West Thompson Fire Department, Quinebaug Vol FD, Community Fire Company, East Putnam Fire Department, Eastford Independent Fire Co. #1, Dudley Fire Department, Southbridge Fire Department, Webster Fire / Rescue Massachusetts, and KB Ambulance

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