Fire Destroys Buildings at Former Montgomery Co.

Sunday, July 16 2006, 07:52 PM EDT

Resources from 50 fire departments were needed to extinguish a fire that destroyed several old mill buildings at the Montgomery Co. complex on Canal Bank Rd at the intersection of RT 159 and RT 140. Firefighters also had to battle the high humidity and temperatures in the 90's. Fire broke out around 5pm on Sunday and quickly engulfed several buildings in the rear of the complex that is on an island between the CT River and the Windsor Locks Canal. Seven mutual aid Task Forces from all over northern CT were called in to help battle the blaze. Fire companies were extinguishing the fire well into the early morning hours on Monday and the final engine company left the scene Monday afternoon. The state fire marshal's office will be investigating the cause of the fire.

The mill has been vacant since 2004 and there are currently plans to convert the 5-story main building into condominiums. That building was not involved in the fire. One of the buildings lost in the fire had been on the site since the Civil War and was used to manufacture guns for the Union Army. [ read more ]

NEW! WLFD Radio Audio The first two hours of recorded audio from the WLFD Repeater. Covers 6 hours of real time.

Photo Gallery from behind the fire line. (Updated 7-28-06)

WLFD Photos taken by the crews of Engine 3 and 6 who were stranded on the north end of the mill. JUST ADDED 7-29, PHOTOS FROM ANDOVER TOWER 115 BUCKET.

229 PHOTOS! taken by Troy Gifford, Photographer for the WHPFD. THESE ARE A MUST SEE!!

1st Responder News story.

If anyone from the public has digital photos of the fire and would like to contribute them to the fire department for posting on this website, please contact or send them to FF Al Roberts.

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Windsor Locks Fire Department
http://www.wlfd.com/article.php/20060716195204573