Colchester Fire Department, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT (2026)

10/12/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Haz-Mat - 278 West Lakeshore Drive

At approximately 6:17 PM this evening, 11 October 2026, the Colchester Fire Department was dispatched to 278 West Lakeshore Drive for a reported fuel leak into Lake Champlain.

While responding, the Chief Officer received updated information indicating that a vessel had sunk while docked at a marina at the reported location.

Upon arrival, the Chief Officer met with the marina manager, who had already begun implementing measures to mitigate potential environmental hazards. Additional Colchester Fire Department units arrived with specialized equipment and resources to assist with containing the fuel spill and limiting its spread into the surrounding waterway.

The Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team was contacted to provide additional guidance and technical assistance. State Haz-Mat personnel subsequently responded to the scene and coordinated with Colchester Fire Department crews and marina personnel to enhance containment efforts. These efforts included the deployment of additional rigid containment booms to supplement the measures already established by the marina and responding fire crews.

Following the implementation of containment measures, it was determined that the vessel would remain submerged overnight. Plans are in place to coordinate the vessel’s removal from the water on Monday, October 12, 2026.

The Colchester Fire Department appreciates the cooperation and assistance of the marina personnel and the Vermont State Hazardous Materials Response Team in working to mitigate the incident and minimize potential environmental impacts.

09/28/2026

The Colchester Fire Department extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow firefighters of Captain Mark Bessette, a 25-year member of the former Mallett’s Bay Fire Department.

Throughout his years of service, Mark was a well-respected member of the department and played an influential role in mentoring firefighters, particularly in developing skilled and proficient apparatus drivers and pump operators.

Today, members of the Colchester Fire Department had the honor of joining Mark’s family and friends at his funeral to pay our respects and recognize his many years of dedicated service to the department and the Colchester community.

Rest easy, Captain. Your service and legacy will not be forgotten.

09/22/2026

National Seat Check Saturday 🚗👶

Our partners at the Colchester Police Department will be hosting a National Seat Check Saturday event at Colchester Fire Department – Station 1, located at 483 Main Street, on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Members from the Colchester Police Department and State partners will be available to help ensure your child’s car seat is properly installed and ready to keep your little ones safe on the road.

No appointment or registration is required, just stop by anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 12 p.m.!

We encourage parents and caregivers to take advantage of this free opportunity to have their child’s car seat checked by trained personnel.

09/16/2026

TRAINING HIGHLIGHT - Roof Venting

This past Monday, September 14, members of the Colchester Fire Department and Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue participated in hands-on roof ventilation training at the former Porters Point School. With the new school now in use, crews were able to utilize a section of the former building scheduled for demolition.

Members practiced different roof ventilation techniques using a variety of tools and methods. Crews were able to physically cut and open sections of the roof, providing realistic experience that can be difficult to replicate during routine training.

Opportunities to train on acquired structures are extremely valuable, allowing firefighters to work with real building materials and conditions in a controlled environment. Training like this helps build confidence, improve skills, and better prepare our members for fireground operations.

We appreciate the opportunity to utilize the former school for this valuable hands-on training.

09/11/2026

Today, on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Colchester Fire Department pauses to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, including the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We also honor the survivors and all those who responded in the days, months, and years that followed, many of whom continue to carry the impacts of that day.

Twenty-five years later, their courage, sacrifice, and service will never be forgotten.

We Remember. We Honor. We Will Never Forget.

09/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

E-Scooter Fire in Apartment - 111 Stuart Ave

At approximately 9:32 p.m., the Colchester Fire Department was dispatched to 111 Stuart Avenue for a reported general fire alarm activation.

Shortly after the initial dispatch, emergency communications began receiving multiple 911 calls from the address reporting an electric scooter (E-Scooter) on fire inside an apartment. Based on the additional information, the incident was upgraded to a structure fire response adding Colchester Rescue Squad.

Fire crews arrived on scene and found nothing visible from two sides of the building. Crews immediately began an investigation while Command spoke with occupants who had evacuated the building. Occupants reported a significant amount of smoke on the upper floor, and another individual advised that they could see the E-Scooter on fire inside a third-floor apartment.

Based on these reports, Command requested a District 1 Working Incident, bringing additional personnel and resources to the scene.

Crews advanced to the third floor, where they encountered a moderate smoke condition and located the apartment involved. Upon entering, firefighters determined that the main body of fire involving the E-Scooter had been largely contained through the use of portable fire extinguishers prior to the occupants evacuating the apartment.

The E-Scooter’s battery had experienced a significant failure, resulting in additional small areas of fire throughout the apartment. Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire and conducted a thorough examination of the apartment to confirm there was no extension into surrounding areas of the building.

Crews then ventilated the structure, monitored conditions, and confirmed that no additional fire or immediate hazards remained. Once fire department operations were completed, the building was turned over to building management.

Later in the incident, one occupant requested evaluation by medical personnel after experiencing coughing and a sore throat following exposure to smoke.

The Colchester Fire Department reminds residents that fires involving lithium-ion batteries can develop rapidly and may produce significant heat, smoke, and hazardous gases. Residents should immediately evacuate and call 911 if a battery-powered device begins smoking, overheating, making unusual noises, or catches fire.

The Colchester fire Department would like to thank the Essex Fire Department for providing coverage to the Town of Colchester while crews operated at the incident.

08/24/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Structure Fire - 170 Cashman Road

At approximately 1:50 p.m. today, August 23, the Colchester Fire Department and St. Michael’s Fire Department were dispatched to 170 Cashman Road for a reported activated fire alarm.

Engine-9 was the first apparatus to arrive and found no visible signs of fire from the exterior of the building. Firefighters were met by St. Michael’s Public Safety personnel, who reported an odor of burning paper in the stairwell.

Upon entering the building, crews encountered a light smoke condition in the stairwell and began investigating. As firefighters reached the third floor, they encountered a moderate smoke condition and discovered water flowing from an activated sprinkler system. Crews traced the activation to a third-floor dorm room and could hear a sprinkler operating inside.

Firefighters forced entry into the room and located a kitchen fire that had been contained by the activation of a single sprinkler head. Crews quickly confirmed the fire was extinguished and worked to control and shut down the sprinkler system.

Firefighters then conducted overhaul operations to confirm there was no extension of the fire into surrounding areas of the building. Due to water from the activated sprinkler system affecting multiple floors, utilities to the building were secured.

The Vermont State Fire Investigation Team was requested to assist with determining the origin and cause of the fire. At this time, the cause remains under investigation.

The Colchester Fire Department would like to thank the Essex Fire Department for providing coverage to the Town of Colchester while crews operated at the incident.

08/17/2026

Mutual Aid - Burlington, VT

At approximately 10:49 p.m. on August 16, 2026, the Colchester Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid to the City of Burlington while Burlington Fire Department units operated at a structure fire.

Colchester Fire responded with a ladder truck and personnel to provide station coverage, ensuring continued fire protection and emergency response capability within the City while Burlington crews remained committed to the incident.

08/11/2026

Boat Incident - Mallett’s Bay

Structure Fire - Essex Jct.

The Colchester Fire Department responded to two incidents overnight involving both marine operations and mutual aid assistance.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, the Colchester Fire Department Marine Unit was requested to respond to the area near the Sand Bar for a report of an overturned kayak. Limited information was available at the time of the initial dispatch.

Fireboat-5 responded by water while a command unit responded to the designated staging area. Following an investigation and the receipt of additional information, crews determined the incident involved an unoccupied vessel that had been observed during the severe weather moving through the area. The incident was subsequently determined to be a good-intent call, and no emergency assistance was required.

Several hours later, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 11, the Colchester Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid to the City of Essex Junction for a third-alarm fire involving an apartment building. The incident was later upgraded to a fourth alarm as additional resources were requested.

Colchester responded with an engine, tower ladder, and command unit to assist with operations at the scene.

08/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Haz-Mat - 784 Hercules Drive

At approximately 11:12 a.m. on August 7, 2026, the Colchester Fire Department was dispatched to 784 Hercules Drive in Colchester for a reported odor of gas inside the building.

Crews arrived on scene with no visible hazards noted from the exterior and began an investigation inside the building. During the initial assessment, firefighters utilized atmospheric monitoring equipment and detected readings indicating carbon monoxide (CO) levels of up to approximately 80 parts per million (ppm).

As the investigation continued, personnel from a neighboring business advised crews that a forklift was being charged inside their building and believed the batteries may have been off-gassing. An additional fire crew investigated the neighboring business and detected meter readings indicating approximately 90 ppm of carbon monoxide.

Due to the elevated readings, involvement of multiple businesses, and uncertainty regarding the source, the Incident Commander requested assistance from the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team.

Fire crews continued atmospheric monitoring and identified isolated elevated readings between the original dispatched address and the adjacent business. Upon arrival, members of the State Haz-Mat Team conducted additional monitoring and determined that carbon monoxide was not the source of the readings. Instead, hydrogen gas being released during the charging of the forklift batteries was identified as the cause.

Many standard electrochemical carbon monoxide sensors can experience cross-sensitivity to hydrogen. Because hydrogen can produce a response on certain CO sensors, the meter may display an apparent carbon monoxide reading even when hydrogen is the gas actually present.

This incident is a good example of why additional resources and subject-matter experts are requested during incidents involving unknown substances or potentially hazardous materials. While initial monitoring provides firefighters with critical information, specialized equipment and expertise may be necessary to accurately identify the hazard and determine the appropriate mitigation measures.

Colchester Fire Department personnel worked alongside the State of Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team to mitigate the hazard and ventilate the affected areas. Atmospheric conditions were monitored until the buildings were determined to be safe and no further hazards were present.

Colchester Fire Department

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