Honestly, if you live in Weston, you know the sound. It’s that low, insistent wail of the sirens from the Norfield Road or Lyons Plain stations that cuts through the quiet of the woods. Lately, those sirens have been busier than most of us would like. Between the massive structure fires that make the 6 o'clock news and those sneaky brush fires that crop up when the leaves get crunchy, there’s been a lot of talk about fire in Weston CT.
It’s not just about property damage. It’s about that "it could happen to anyone" feeling that settles in when you see smoke rising over the trees on Newtown Turnpike or Georgetown Road.
The Thanksgiving Disaster: 40 Weston Road
Let’s talk about the one everyone still brings up at the Lachat Farmers Market. It was Thanksgiving Day, 2024. Most people were settling in for football and turkey, but the Weston Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) was racing toward 40 Weston Road.
Basically, what started as a holiday tradition turned into a nightmare. A turkey fryer in a garage sparked a blaze that didn't just take the garage—it gutted the entire house.
Firefighters were on that scene for 16 hours. Think about that. 16 hours of dousing hot spots in the freezing air while the rest of the town was eating pie. It took a massive mutual aid effort, with crews coming in from Westport, Wilton, Redding, and even Ridgefield.
One of the craziest details? A car actually drove over the water supply hose on Weston Road, cutting off the flow of water to the scene for several critical minutes. You can’t make this stuff up. It’s a miracle no one was hurt, but the home was a total loss.
Why the Woods are a Tinderbox
Weston is beautiful because of the trees, but those trees are also a huge risk. In late 2025, we saw a string of brush fires that had everyone on edge.
- Old Redding Road: A 25-square-foot fire nearly took off because of the wind.
- High Noon Road: A brush fire actually hit a shed and almost reached several houses before the WVFD stopped it.
- Valley Forge Road: Downed power lines started a fire right in the roadway, shutting down the whole area near Newtown Turnpike.
The state often lists our area as "High" or "Very High" for forest fire danger, especially in the fall. When it’s that dry, even a discarded cigarette or a spark from a lawnmower can start something that moves faster than you can run.
The Hurlbutt Legacy: Learning from 1963
You can’t really understand fire in Weston CT without looking back at the "Great School Fire." On October 30, 1963, the original Hurlbutt Elementary School went up in flames. It was a massive disaster that destroyed 12 classrooms and displaced nearly 300 students.
Back then, the fire department was still using "surround and drown" tactics. They didn't have enough water on-site and had to run hoses all the way from the Saugatuck River near Cobb’s Mill Inn. That fire changed everything. It forced the town to modernize, buy better pumpers, and realize that waiting for the fire to come to you is a losing game. Today’s WVFD is a whole different beast—aggressive, well-trained, and fast.
The Reality of Being a Volunteer Town
Here is the thing: Weston doesn't have a "pro" fire department in the way a big city does. It’s 100% volunteer. These are your neighbors. The person who works in finance or runs a local landscaping business is the same person putting on 70 pounds of gear at 3 AM.
They operate out of two main spots:
- Station 1: 52 Norfield Road (right by the center of town).
- Station 2: 234 Lyons Plain Road (covering the southern end).
Because they are volunteers, they rely heavily on mutual aid. If there's a big structure fire on Hemlock Ridge or Davis Hill Road, you’re going to see trucks from Wilton and Westport within minutes. It’s a tight-knit system, but it’s a system that depends on people actually showing up.
What You Should Actually Do Now
If you’re worried about fire in Weston CT, don't just sit there. There are a few very "Weston-specific" things you can do to keep your house from being the next one on the news.
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Clean your chimneys. Seriously. We have so many beautiful colonial and mid-century homes with wood-burning fireplaces. Creosote buildup is a leading cause of winter fires here. Get a sweep out once a year.
Watch the turkey fryers. After the 40 Weston Road incident, the WVFD has been loud about this. Never fry a turkey in a garage, under a porch, or anywhere near a structure. Use it on the driveway, far away from anything that can burn.
Check your house numbers. Many Weston driveways are long, winding, and hidden by stone walls. If a fire truck can’t find your house because your number is hidden by a bush, that’s precious time lost. Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street, even at night.
Adopt a Hydrant. If you have a hydrant near your property, keep it clear of snow in the winter. Digging out a hydrant takes five minutes for you but can feel like an eternity for a firefighter while a house is burning.
Mind the "No Burn" days. When the Fire Marshal says no outdoor burning, they mean it. The wind in these hills can carry an ember from a small leaf pile onto your neighbor's roof in seconds.
Fire is a part of life in a wooded town like ours, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Support the WVFD, stay alert during dry spells, and for heaven's sake, keep the turkey fryer out of the garage.