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Fire Reports | October 8-14, 2025

Published: Oct 20, 2025 8:00 am

Wednesday, October 8: 11:35 pm, fire alarm, 8 Nighthawk Lane, Sandy Hook responded.

Thursday, October 9: 10:34 am, service call, 7 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook responded; 1:20 pm, fire alarm, 11 Queen Street, Hook & Ladder and Sandy Hook responded; 1:23 pm, tree/wires down, 3 Irvin Lane, Hawleyville responded.

Friday, October 10: 11:25 am, fuel spill, 115 High Rock Road, Botsford responded; 11:37 am, medical assist, Founders Lane, Sandy Hook responded; 2:55 pm, service call, 77 Poverty Hollow Road, Dodgingtown responded; 11 pm, outside fire, 3 Primrose Street, Hook & Ladder responded.

Saturday, October 11: 9:13 am, tree/wires down, 65 Taunton Lake Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 12:45 pm, CO alarm, 6 Silver Brook Lane, Botsford and Hook & Ladder responded; 2:08 pm, service call, 12 Church Hill Road, Botsford and Hook & Ladder responded; 4:44 pm, fire alarm, 42 Taunton Hill Road, Dodgingtown and Hawleyville responded.

Sunday, October 12: 9:17 am, fire alarm, 20 Enclave Circle, Hook & Ladder responded; 9:33 am, brush fire near garage, 3 Quaker Lane, all companies responded.

Monday, October 13: 3:51 am, fire alarm, 14 High Bridge Road, Botsford; 9:35 am, tree/wires down, Church Hill Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 10:06 am, fire alarm, 12 Turnbury Lane, Botsford and Sandy Hook responded; 10:59 am, tree/wires down, 175 Mt Pleasant Road, Hawleyville responded; 8:10 pm, fire alarm, 1 Gopher Road, Hawleyville responded.

Tuesday, October 14: 6:48 am, tree/wires down, 29 Parmalee Hill Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 12:14 pm, fire alarm, 53 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook and Hook & Ladder responded; 9:54 pm, vehicle fire, 75 South Main Street, Botsford and Hook & Ladder responded; 11:13 pm, fire alarm, 30 Botsford Hill Road, Botsford responded.

Newtown Hook & Ladder and Botsford Fire Rescue responded to NJK Sunoco around 9:30 pm Tuesday, October 14, for a vehicle fire. Newtown Police officers and the local firefighters found a Toyota Highlander in the parking lot of the 75 Main Street South business, its engine compartment fully engulfed. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. There was no extension to the gas pumps or building, and no damage to any nearby vehicles. The driver of the vehicle was able to safely exit the vehicle without injury. The fire temporarily closed Main Street South at its intersection with Elm Drive while firefighters operated at the scene. A fire marshal also responded to the scene. —Bee Photo, Hicks

Police Reports | September 26-October 12, 2025

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Newtown PD Will Again Participate In Statewide Gun Buyback, Gun Safe Giveaway Event

A Full House For Inaugural Designer Bag Bingo

If Bruce Walczak wasn’t considered qualified enough to serve on the Board of Education the last time he ran, how does that suddenly make him fit to lead the entire town as First Selectman? Newtown deserves proven competence, not political recycling. We should expect more from our leaders than recycled campaigns and empty slogans about “listening.” The First Selectman’s job demands results, judgment, and the respect of those he hopes to lead — not another round of excuses. Do we really elect failure as a qualification now?

Reasons To Support Walczak

We don’t need more listeners — we need action. We need someone who will stand up for the town, not engage in a politically divisive, doublespeak campaign. We need honor in the position, not politics. Leadership isn’t about echoing what’s convenient or popular — it’s about facing hard questions and making tough decisions for the good of the whole community. Newtown deserves a leader who answers with conviction, not calculation. Our town needs accountability, not applause.

Walczak, A Leader Who Listens And Follows Through

Mr. Walczak’s reply is unfortunately emblematic of the political double-speak that frustrates so many residents. Rather than engaging on the substantive issues raised — namely, the balance between quality education and fiscal responsibility — he chose to deflect and assign partisan blame. It’s easy to grandstand about “supporting education.” It’s harder to make responsible decisions that keep Newtown affordable for everyone — families, seniors, and small businesses alike. That’s the work real public servants are doing, even when it’s not politically convenient.

Responds To Walczak

*Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on the education budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC.

Mr. Walczak, I read it multiple times before submitting my letter and again afterward. Nowhere in your letter do you mention Legislative Council. Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC. In addition, I noted that you didn't respond to the more substantive issue highlighted in my letter -- school funding and impact on our residents. Your initial letter seemed to indicate that "Republicans" were misguided in challenging budget requests. Regardless of whether you were talking about LC or BOE, is it your position that 64.8% of every tax dollar is not enough to adequately fund our schools? Are you advocating to spend more money? It feels like your Letter to the Editor is at odds with your campaign pitch of affordability.

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Fire Reports | October 8-14, 2025

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