BHC News

Beacon Hose’s Top 10 Photos of 2024

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We bid farewell to 2024 with our annual post featuring Beacon Hose’s top 10 photos of the year!

It was a year filled with lifesaving rescues, skillful stops, near-misses, losses of longtime brothers, expansion of our department, and celebration of our 125th anniversary.

Our members rescued 19 people and a dog from floodwaters in Oxford, quickly extinguished a structure fire on Highland Avenue, responded to several severe accidents on Route 8, paid our respects to “Uncle” Al Beckwith and others, welcomed a third ambulance to our fleet and a third Mulinski into our department, learned pet CPR, and threw Christian Hotchkiss high above the dance floor. Scroll through the photos for more details on each one.

Thanks to all of our members, neighbors, mutual-aid partners and dispatchers, vendors, and friends for a memorable 2024 — here’s to much health, happiness, and prosperity in 2025!

BHC News

Beacon Hose Announces the Passing of 50-Year Member Al Beckwith

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We are so sad to announce the passing of longtime Beacon Hose member Albert Beckwith this Sunday morning after an illness.

So many of us knew him as “Uncle Al,” a nickname he earned thanks to his friendliness and wisdom accumulated throughout his 52-year career as a member of Beacon Hose.

Al was a firefighter who for a time served as lieutenant, and he was also one of the first certified EMTs in Connecticut, serving for years as Beacon Hose’s ambulance coordinator. In that role, he was the leader of the committee that designed and purchased our first modern ambulance in 1979.

In the decades following his active service, Uncle Al remained a constant presence at our meetings and events. He was a parade enthusiast who not only helped prepare our apparatus, but also called commands in the line of march. He was also our honor guard commander who took special pride in helping us pay tribute to many departed members at their ceremonies.

Continue reading Beacon Hose Announces the Passing of 50-Year Member Al Beckwith →
BHC News

Media Coverage from Beacon Hose’s Flood Rescue at Brookside in Oxford

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We want to thank the many media organizations — local, state, national, and even international — that have recognized our incredible and courageous firefighters and EMTs for their actions in Oxford on Sunday. There are too many videos, articles, podcasts, and interviews to mention individually here on social media, so we’ve linked many of them below.

“Firefighters rescued nearly 20 people from flooded restaurant in Oxford” by NBC Connecticut

“Beacon Hose Co. stages dramatic rescue of 19 people and 1 dog” by the Republican-American

“Beacon Falls firefighters saved 19 lives and a dog from restaurant during deadly flooding in Oxford” and “Two women dead after flood waters sweep them away in Oxford” by WFSB

“Firefighters rescued 19 people and dog in Oxford from rising floodwaters at Brookside Inn” by the Connecticut Post

“Beacon Falls firefighters rescue 19 people, dog from rising floodwaters in Oxford” by Yahoo News and WTNH

“Connecticut floods leave 2 dead and over 100 evacuated; state of emergency declared” by ABC News

“Floods from ‘training thunderstorms’ lead to dramatic rescues and 2 deaths in Connecticut” by the Associated Press

“Flash Flooding Strands People in Connecticut” by the New York Times

“Connecticut firefighters rescue 19 people, dog from swiftly rising floodwaters in Oxford” by FOX Weather

“Video From Oxford Flood Shows Heroism Of Valley Emergency Responders” by the Valley Independent Sentinel

WPLR’s Chaz and AJ also interviewed Beacon Hose’s Cal Brennan and Brookside’s Nicole Salva about the incident.

WICC’s Melissa in the Morning show interviewed Beacon Hose’s Jeremy Rodorigo about the incident.

Star 99.9 also interviewed Rodorigo about the incident.

BHC News, Events

BHC Holidays: Tree Sale, Lightings and Parade, Charity Drives, Popcorn Ball Sunday, and Operation Believe

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UPDATE: Thanks for your support throughout this holiday season! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Beacon Hose’s favorite season is chock full of events in 2024. Here’s what’s on tap!

CHRISTMAS TREE SALE

Our longtime tradition of the Christmas tree sale will return to our parking lot on weekends after Thanksgiving. We’ll open up Black Friday, and then we’ll be here Saturdays and Sundays thereafter until we’re sold out. We are open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. during the sale.

Trees are $75 each. As always, we offer custom tree trimming and free delivery to Beacon Falls residents. We also have cemetery boxes for $18. Cash, checks, cards, and digital payments are accepted.

The local Cub Scouts will also sell wreaths: 12-inch wreaths for $20 and 18-20-inch wreaths for $35.

Continue reading BHC Holidays: Tree Sale, Lightings and Parade, Charity Drives, Popcorn Ball Sunday, and Operation Believe →
BHC News, Events

Support Operation Believe; Plus, Sign Up for Santa Drive-Thru Dec. 15

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UPDATE: Thanks for your support! Registration is now closed; Believe products are still on sale.

Operation Believe flags, door mats, and signs are available for purchase: Click here to order online now! They’ll also be available at our Christmas tree sale.

We love making sure our Beacon Falls youngsters get a chance to meet Santa Claus before Christmas — and hopefully receive a gift from the big man, too!

Santa will visit Beacon Hose on Sunday, Dec. 15 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Families will be invited to drive around the firehouse, check in from the car, and drive into the firehouse where Santa will be awaiting with the gift(s)! You’ll be able to get out and meet (and get a complementary photo with) the big man!

Continue reading Support Operation Believe; Plus, Sign Up for Santa Drive-Thru Dec. 15 →
BHC News, Events

Thanksgiving Meat-O to Return Nov. 23

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Update: We are no longer accepting RSVPs. Thanks for your support!

Beacon Hose is set to host the latest edition of one of our most popular events: the Thanksgiving Meat-O!

Our Thanksgiving Meat-O night will be Saturday, Nov. 23, from 6-9 p.m. at the firehouse. A $10 admission fee buys you a seat, and we’ll have light refreshments. The features of the night are games of chance to win something special for your Thanksgiving table. We’ll have turkeys, hams, roasts, seafood, raffle baskets, mystery turkeys, and more up for grabs!

We aren’t doing reserved seating, but we do require a head count if you plan on coming. Only those 21 and older are allowed, and the event is BYOB (alcohol is allowed) and BYOS (snacks!). To give us your head count, please complete the form below, message us on social media, call the firehouse (203-729-1470), or email info@beaconhose.com by Nov. 20.

Continue reading Thanksgiving Meat-O to Return Nov. 23 →