New Salem Fire Department

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New Salem, MA
New Salem Fire Department

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Providing on call fire suppression and emergency services to the Town of New Salem. Established: 1934

08/31/2026

Two separate crashes closed Route 202 this morning and afternoon while responders covered two additional calls.

There were no major injuries and all occupants were able to extricate from the vehicles. Motorists are reminded to pull over and stop (*stop*) for emergency vehicles. Rolling along at 35-40 MPH does not allow for their safe passage and puts all road users at risk. This is something we see with all responses, especially on busy roads.

This weekend began a very busy season: Move-in at local colleges and seasonal events. Drive safely and seatbelts save lives — as evidenced today.

Thanks to all our dispatchers, mutual aid, law enforcement, MassDOT and towing partners for a true team effort.

05/03/2026

The airplane has been removed from the Quabbin Reservoir O’Loughlin Regulating Pond in New Salem without incident. Teamwork is crucial in emergency response, and the Town of New Salem would like to thank our partners and the organizations which assisted in the response and recovery:

New Salem Police
State Police: Athol, Belchertown, Shelburne Control 911 Communications, Dive Team, Marine Unit and Detective Unit
Orange Fire Department
Leverett/Wendell Police
Northfield Dive Rescue
Environmental Police
Department of Environmental Protection
DCR Forest Fire Control
DCR Water Supply Protection
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
AMI Recovery
Helicopter Applicators, Inc.
Federal Aviation Administration

No further information is available. All inquiries can be directed to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

05/02/2026

Pilot Transported after Plane Crash in Quabbin Reservoir

No Other Injuries Reported

NEW SALEM—The pilot of a small plane was rescued after crashing in the Quabbin Reservoir this evening, New Salem Fire Chief Matt O’Donnell said.

The New Salem Fire Department, New Salem Police Department, Orange Fire Department, and Massachusetts State Police responded to the Quabbin Reservoir at about 7:40 this evening after a witness reported a plane into the water. The witness reported a person in the water calling for help.

Firefighters arrived and confirmed the report of a man in the water near Route 122 and Fishing Area 2. New Salem firefighters maintained voice and visual contact with the pilot, then outfitted the first responding state trooper with a personal flotation device and a tether line. The trooper was able to reach and rescue one adult male, the pilot, from the water, and was then pulled back to shore by the rescue team.

An Orange Fire Department ambulance transported the man to Orange Airport, and UMass LifeFlight transported him to UMass Memorial Medical Center.

The plane is fully submerged and will remain in the water until personnel and equipment can remove it. Based on the information available, officials believe there were no other occupants.

No other information is available at this time.

11/09/2025

Overnight Saturday, Engine 3 responded to Amherst to assist their department and other mutual aid partners with a large residential apartment complex fire. In a shuttle with 11 other water tenders from Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties, we made 26 round trips from three pressurized hydrant fill sites to supplement the water supply on scene and were back in New Salem at about 9:30 AM.

Amherst Fire regularly assists us, especially with their ambulances, and we were happy to assist them on this incident, which would be overwhelming for any fire department, no matter the size.

Address

33 S Main Street
New Salem, MA
01355

Telephone

+19785443345

Website

http://www.newsalemfire.org/

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