Essex Junction Fire Department

08/23/2026

Structure Fire – 48 Park Street

At 3:34 p.m. today, August 22, the Essex Junction Fire Department was dispatched with automatic mutual aid from Essex Fire Department and Essex Rescue, Inc. to 48 Park Street for a reported fire alarm activation and smoke coming from a first-floor balcony.

Car 9 arrived approximately three minutes after dispatch. The Incident Commander reported smoke showing from the Delta side of the building and requested a second-alarm assignment, bringing additional resources from Williston Fire Department, Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue, VTANG Fire Department, and Winooski Fire Department.

During a 360-degree assessment of the building, Command identified a first-floor apartment with smoke pushing from a window and heavy smoke conditions obscuring the rear sliding glass door.

Upon arrival, Ladder 3 was assigned to fire attack. Its crew entered the first floor, established a fire suppression line from the building’s standpipe system, and made entry into the involved apartment. Officer's with Essex Police Department and Williston Vermont Police Department assisted in making the connection to the hydrant and also throwing ladder's to the fire apartment.

Crews found that the building’s automatic fire sprinkler system had activated and successfully held the fire in check. Firefighters quickly extinguished the remaining fire while Ladder 3 personnel conducted a primary search of the apartment and confirmed that no occupants remained inside.

Additional crews searched the floors above the fire, ventilated smoke from the building, worked to limit water damage, and conducted overhaul, salvage, and fire investigation operations.

The investigation determined that the fire was accidental and originated from combustible materials stored too close to an electric stovetop.

No civilians or firefighters were injured. Residents of the unaffected apartments were able to return to their residences, and building management was on scene assisting residents following the incident.

Essex Junction Fire responded to the incident with Car 9, Ladder 3, and Engine 7, with 10 EJFD personnel responding to the call. As a paid-call fire department, our members respond from their homes, workplaces, and daily activities when called. This incident was the department’s fourth emergency response of the day.

Today’s fire also represents the third structure fire response in the City of Essex Junction in the past 17 days and the second involving a large, multi-story, multi-family residential building. Incidents of this size and complexity require significantly more personnel and resources than a typical emergency response and have resulted in an increased reliance on our surrounding mutual-aid departments.

The Essex Junction Fire Department is grateful for the continued response and support of our regional partners. The mutual-aid system allows departments throughout our region to combine personnel, apparatus, and specialized capabilities when an incident exceeds the resources available from any single community.

Today’s incident also demonstrates the importance of properly maintained fire protection systems in multi-family buildings. The building’s automatic sprinkler system contained the fire until firefighters could arrive and complete extinguishment, significantly limiting fire spread and damage.

08/11/2026

4-ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE — 197 PEARL STREET

At 12:06 a.m., the Essex Junction Fire Department was dispatched to 197 Pearl Street for a resident reporting the smell of smoke inside their apartment. The resident was concerned the odor could be coming from the building following a loud bang heard at approximately 10:00 p.m. the previous evening, during the height of the lightning storm.

Ladder 3 and Car 9 responded, with mutual aid from the Town of Essex Fire Department. Initial conditions from the front of the building showed no active alarm and no obvious signs of fire.

As Ladder 3 turned into the property, the driver observed smoke moving across the parking lot with no immediately identifiable source. While conducting a partial 360-degree assessment of the structure, the driver located smoke coming from the B/C corner of the building and reported, “Smoke showing to Command.”

Command immediately requested additional resources, adding Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue and Williston Fire Department to the assignment.

Ladder 3’s crew proceeded to the fourth floor to evaluate interior conditions and locate roof access. Ladder 3 was positioned for aerial access to the roof, and a member climbed the aerial to obtain a better view of conditions. Fire was then identified on the roof in the area of an HVAC unit.

Essex Engine 2 arrived, established a water supply, and its crew accessed the roof using Ladder 3. Crews initially found fire that appeared to be contained to the HVAC unit. However, while working to isolate power to the unit, a PVC pipe melted and collapsed, exposing active fire within the concealed roof system between the interior ceiling and roof deck.

The discovery of fire traveling through this concealed space significantly increased the complexity of the incident.

Roof crews were required to use saws to cut and remove sections of the roof deck under active fire conditions. At the same time, crews operating on the floor below worked upward using hand tools through multiple layers of construction, including sheetrock, metal decking, woven material, and more than 20 inches of blown-in insulation to locate and extinguish hidden fire.

The difficult construction, concealed fire conditions, extensive overhaul required, and high heat and humidity created significant demands on personnel and ultimately resulted in the incident being escalated to a Fourth Alarm.

Five apartments were directly affected—one by fire and four by water associated with suppression operations. Two firefighters were evaluated at the scene for minor injuries and both returned to duty. No residents were injured.

The building manager was working to provide housing for residents displaced by the incident.

We cannot adequately thank our mutual-aid partners for their response and support. This incident brought together departments from throughout the region and represented one of the largest emergency responses within our community in decades.

Resources responding included:

Essex Junction Fire Department: Ladder 3, Engine 7, Car 9, and additional personnel responding by personal vehicle
Town of Essex Fire Department: 2 Engines
Essex Rescue: 1 Ambulance
Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue: 1 Engine
Williston Fire Department: 1 Ladder Truck and Ambulance
Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department: 1 Engine
Winooski Fire Department: 1 Engine and Chief’s Vehicle
Burlington Fire Department: 1 Tower, 1 Engine, and Chief’s Vehicle
Underhill-Jericho Fire Department: 1 Engine
Colchester Fire Department: 1 Tower, 1 Engine, and Chief’s Vehicle
Hinesburg Fire Department: 1 Engine and Chief’s Vehicle
Milton Fire Department: 1 Apparatus

The Essex Junction Fire Department appreciates the cooperation of the building’s residents throughout this extended incident and the tremendous support provided by our regional fire and EMS partners.

08/07/2026

Recently, our Thursday Training Crew, "Day Crew," as they happily call themselves, took part in training on Ladder 3. The crew practiced "throwing" the Aerial to multiple buildings and one of our members' homes. Additionally, they practiced incline placement on the fairground hill, as medium- and high-percentage grades affect how Ladder 3 must be emplaced for use.

08/04/2026

Basement fire at 20 Orchard Terrace — Essex Junction Fire responded this morning at 3:44 AM. Mutual aid from Essex Fire Department, Essex Rescue, Inc., Williston Fire Department, Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue, VTANG Fire Department , Winooski Fire Department and Essex Police Department assisted. Read the full incident report on our website:

At 3:44am on August 4th, Essex Junction Fire was dispatched for a working fire at 20 Orchard Terrace, City of Essex Junction. Essex Town Fire and Essex Rescue were also dispatched as automatic mutual aid. While en route, this was upgraded to a second alarm to bring in additional resources from Willi...

07/28/2026

07/27/2026

This evening at 5:18 p.m., EJFD was dispatched to a brush fire in the woods between Cascade Park and the Winooski River.

At 5:18pm on 26 July 2026, the Essex Junction Fire Department was dispatched for a smoke investigation after a caller reported smoke coming from the wooded area behind Cascade Park.EJFD responded with Car 9, Engine 5, and Engine 7, along with 9 personnel, to the area. Engine 5 arrived on scene, and....

07/05/2026

We would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Firefighter Fred Mashtare. His dedication to the service was felt throughout the Northern Vermont Fire Service. Additionally, our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters of the Grand Isle Volunteer Fire Department during this difficult time.

Today, Grand Isle Fire Department was dispatched to a medical emergency involving one of our own. Despite the tireless efforts of fellow firefighters and EMS personnel, including CPR and life-saving measures, Firefighter Fred Mashtare passed away.

Fred dedicated more than four decades to the fire service, serving with nearly every department in Grand Isle County, though Grand Isle Fire was always the place he called home. Throughout his years of service, he filled many roles within the department and spent many years serving on the Board of North Country International Fire Training Service Inc.1971. His commitment to helping others never wavered, and he was passionate about mentoring the next generation of firefighters, always eager to share his knowledge, experience, and the occasional story from "back in the day."

In recent years, Fred proudly took on the role of driving the tanker, making sure water got where it was needed. If you heard the unmistakable sound of AC/DC blasting from an old cassette as the tanker rolled up, you knew Fred had arrived.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Fred's family, many of whom have also served alongside him over the years as junior firefighters, firefighters, or members of the auxiliary. They, like our department, have lost not only a dedicated firefighter but a beloved family member and friend.

Fred's legacy of service, mentorship, and friendship will continue to live on in all those who had the privilege of serving beside him.

Information regarding funeral and memorial arrangements will be shared as soon as they become available.

Rest easy, Fred. We'll take it from here.

07/03/2026

Today had a bit of everything in the heat.

Crews started Thursday morning (0930-11am) doing our Thursday morning training. The Thursday morning crew worked on master stream use and hose line work at the high school. Crews attempted this same training last week and found the fire hydrant had failed. Public Works replaced the hydrant this week, and our crew got to put this hydrant to work.

Next, a crew took Ladder 3 to a community event to assist the Cub Scout Day Camp and offer them an opportunity to cool off. It was a short visit, but from what we could tell, all parties had a good time.

Crews returned to the station just after 1345 before responding mutual aid to the Town of Essex for a boat that caught fire during repairs. Engine 5 and six members supported this call.

Crews then responded to a general fire alarm at 1608 on Park Street. Car 9, Ladder 3, Engine 7, and eight personnel covered this call. While investigating the cause of the alarm, a second call for a Lift assist in the City was dispatched. Engine 7's crew took this call and assisted Essex Rescue, Inc.

It's been hot, and as we continue to remind our crews, dehydration builds. So make sure to drink your water and eat to be prepared for working in the heat.

06/23/2026

Tonight members first familiarized themselves with our different ladder types and size and then worked on ground ladder drills during our Monday Night Training. Crews practiced throwing different size ground ladders individually and in teams of two for a couple of hours.

Once complete those drills the crews familiarized themselves and taught new members about Ladder 3. Members practiced working from our 105ft aerial. Crews trained until 9pm when a call for a natural gas leak investigation was dispatched by Essex Police Department dispatchers.

Two crews responded on Engine 7 and Ladder 3 to the call in the City. Crews determined the resident's actions taken had mitigated the risk. Crews took air samples within the home confirming no hazards remained in the home.

We do want to remind residents that you can purchase gas detectors, similar to your smoke detectors, for your home at the same stores you would purchase your smoke and CO detectors. These can be installed in areas where natural gas could leak or be accidentally turned on like a gas range. Reminder that unlike propane, natural gas is lighter then air which means ceilings and upstairs areas will fill before lower areas, so mount these detectors high on the wall or on ceilings near natural gas appliances.

**4th wall break** I have installed these in my own home after a burner was accidentally turned on in my own home.

05/11/2026

On Sunday, May 10 at approximately 2203, the Essex Junction Fire Department, Essex Fire Department and Essex Rescue were dispatched to respond to 24 Loubier Drive in the City of Essex Junction for a reported structure fire.

LT Leclair immediately requested a second alarm be transmitted for the incident, which brings in the following mutual aid: ladder from Williston Fire, engine from Vermont Air National Guard Fire, engine from St Michael's College and an engine from Winooski Fire for station coverage.

While en route, dispatch updated that Essex Police were on the scene with a confirmed fire and that everyone was out of the home.

Car 9 responded and arrived on the scene to find a single story, wood frame, single family dwelling with smoke showing from the garage of the structure. Car 9 assigned Engine 7 with fire suppression. E7 arrived and stretched an attack line into the structure, finding smoke and fire conditions in the garage. Ladder 3 responded and arrived shortly after and was assigned as the truck company to search and check for extension. L3 crew conducted a primary search of the residence and confirmed everyone had made it out prior to our arrival. L3 and E7 crews found minimal fire extension into the residence itself, and most of the fire damage was contained to the garage. Crews found near zero visibility throughout the residence while operating. The fire was quickly contained to the garage and doorway to the residence.

Crews then transitioned to overhaul and ventilation of the structure which were assigned to personnel from Essex Fire and Williston Fire. The remainder of the second alarm assignment staged on scene but were ultimately not utilized.

An investigation was conducted on the scene which revealed the cause of the fire was determined to be improperly discarded smoking materials inside the garage. The garage portion of the residence sustained smoke, fire and heat damage while the interior of the home sustained smoke damage. EJFD would like to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of properly discarding smoking materials which include ensuring the material is fully extinguished, is placed in a non-flammable container and is placed outside of a building and not close to a building.

Photos provided and taken by: Troy Austin