KENT, Conn.—In a chaotic few hours Friday, March 21, Kent first responders were called upon to quench a fire at Camps KenMont and KenWood in South Kent, respond to a car accident on Route 7 near Saddle Ridge Road, check out a possible illegal burn on Schaghticoke Road, and respond to a downed tree on Jennings Road.
The first call was for sparking wires on Kent Hollow Road, caused by fallen branches, around 10 a.m. The Town of Kent highway department responded and called off the fire departments from Kent and neighboring Northville.
A second call came at the same time from Camps KenMont and KenWood where, according to a statement released by the camp, an electrician working in an unused staff cabin inadvertently sparked a blaze. Whipping winds reportedly complicated efforts to control the fire.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at 10:04 a.m. Upon arrival, they found two 60-foot by 20-foot cottages fully engulfed in flames. Three cabins were eventually consumed but 10 others that had been endangered were saved.
The camp, located at 65 Kenmont Road, offers co-ed programs for children ages 7 to 15 during the summer.
Litchfield County Fire Coordinator Bernie Meehan said the cabins were heated by propane and that four tanks exploded. Crews were able to shut off others and Eversource killed the power to electric lines to prevent more explosions.
About a dozen fire companies were called to the scene and ran hoses from a lake across the street using a pumper truck. One firefighter received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital but later released.
Firefighters left the scene about 2:30 p.m. after ensuring there were no hot spots.
Following the incident, camp owner Brad Lerman said, “We at KenMont KenWood Camps are incredibly grateful for the quick response of the many local fire companies and the many other emergency personnel who quickly responded to this morning’s limited structure fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the impacted buildings were unoccupied.”
As that fire scene was winding down, the accident scene was developing on Route 7 south of the village center. At 1:30 p.m. Route 7 was shut down south of the junction of routes 7 and 341 while emergency crews worked to free the accident victim near Saddle Ridge Road. Wires were down across the vehicle.
Power outages were reported around 1:33 p.m. in the village of Kent, south along Route 7 and in the area of Bulls Bridge.
Eversource was at the scene by 1:52 p.m. and the wires were removed from the car by 1:58 p.m. At the same time, Engine 1 also requested Engine 2, which had been blocking traffic on Route 7 at the intersection with 341, to return to the scene for hot spots. First responders left the scene 15 minutes later, the accident victim having refused hospital transport.
The scene was turned over to the State Police for investigation and one lane of Route 7 was reopened, with alternating traffic in the area of the accident.
Power was reported to be restored at 2:34 p.m.
At 2:31 p.m., Kent Engine 1 reported a possible illegal burn on Schagticoke Road and asked Litchfield County Dispatch to notify the Connecticut State Police. Shortly thereafter, Kent Engine 2 responded to Schaghticoke Road, but by 2:51 p.m. both trucks were responding to Jennings Road in South Kent where a tree was reported down across the entire road.
