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On the morning of
November 6, 1981, a fire erupted at the Knights of
Columbus Hall behind St. Mary's Church in
Simsbury. The fire started in the garage and quickly extended
throughout the second floor. The fire was well underway when the
first units arrived on-scene. Approximately sixty-five
firefighters answered the call that morning.
Crews went to work to bring the fire under control. Roof
ventilation operations were ordered, and teams began to advance
hose lines by several different points of access. Lieutenant
Richard Kelleher
was with a team on an exterior stairway helping to take a line
to the second floor when he collapsed.
Lt. Richard Kelleher died
that morning of an apparent heart attack and sadly became the
Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company's first and only line of duty
death. He was thirty-seven years young.
Fire is showing from the roof of the garage as firefighters try to access the second floor. Captain Terry Beliveau does a "size-up" of the "C" side of the structure. Firefighters are ordered out of the second floor and exit through a window onto a porch roof. Hugh Cadwell, Jack Driscoll and Ken Believeau continue to operate from the porch roof as fire roars above them. Exterior operations continue. Firefighter Gerry Post operates Engine 3's front-mount pump. Captain Dan Hayes engages in some salvage work. A firefighter takes a breather while work continues to bring the fire under control. Firefighters Gary Wilcox, James Meade, Chris Doskos and Peter Gilbert rehab after some hard work. Damage to the second floor of the structure. Fire extensively damaged the structure including this piano.
Fire is showing from the roof of the garage as firefighters try to access the second floor.
Photographs by
John Ross
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