Westerly Fire Department, 7 Union Street, Westerly, RI (2026)

10/10/2026

On October 8, 2026, our volunteers joined members of the Watch Hill Fire , Misquamicut Fire Department, and Pawcatuck Fire Departments for a joint training exercise utilizing an acquired structure.

Training opportunities like these strengthen interdepartmental coordination, teamwork, and operational readiness.

Thank you to the Watch Hill Fire Department for extending the invitation and bringing our departments together for a valuable training experience.

10/09/2026

On Tuesday, October 6, volunteers of the Westerly Fire Department participated in swift water rescue training on the Pawcatuck River, strengthening the department’s ability to respond to water-related emergencies.
The hands-on training included throw-bag drills, tethered swimmer rescues, and boat operations simulating the rescue of injured or stranded swimmers and kayakers.

Members also trained with newly acquired rescue equipment, including dry suits, safety helmets, personal flotation devices (PFDs), rope bags, and specialized footwear. The exercise provided an opportunity to share techniques and knowledge gained through recent Swift Water Rescue certifications.

Through continued training and investment in specialized equipment, the Westerly Fire Department remains committed to maintaining operational readiness and protecting our community.

10/05/2026

The One’s and The Two’s

The story of the Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2 is a brief but vibrant chapter in the history of the Westerly Fire Department. Formed just a year after the district was established and disbanded five years later—eighteen years before the district brought back a second engine company in the form of the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Company No. 2—the first Engine Company No. 2 was once a beloved fixture in town. Named after one of Westerly’s most prominent citizens, the company was famous for hosting grand balls and lavish dinners, as well as for its aggressive speed in getting water onto a fire. Known affectionately—and occasionally mockingly—as the “Hay Cart” or simply “The Twos,” the N. F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2 remains a remarkable tale of local rivalry, social camaraderie, and incredible physical endurance.

The apparatus itself was built in 1849 by William Jeffers of Pawtucket for that city’s Rough and Ready Engine Company. A nine-inch, double-deck hand engine, it was a heavy-duty machine requiring a large team of muscular men to work its stacked handlebars. The pumper served Pawtucket for years before eventually being traded back to its maker.

By late 1868, the village of Westerly faced growing anxiety over its fire protection. A catastrophic fire at the Charles Maxson & Co. planing mill in October 1868 made town leaders realize that their existing infrastructure was drastically inadequate. In January 1869, a citizens' committee purchased two pieces of equipment from Jeffers: a modern, steam-powered fire engine dubbed the "Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine No. 1," and the veteran 1849 hand pumper.

In early 1872, a new force emerged in Westerly's fire service. Approximately forty men—the majority of whom were seasoned veterans who had already fought blazes across town—banded together to formally organize a separate engine company around the hand engine maintained by "The Ones." Meeting in mid-March to elect officers and adopt a formal structure, the men officially named their outfit the "Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2." Popularly known around town as "The Twos," the company quickly established itself as a spirited, close-knit, and formidable crew. Stationed in the downtown business district on Union Street near the Pawcatuck River—sharing an engine house with The Ones—their hall served as both the apparatus shed and the lively hub of their social life.

Warren W. Brown served as the first and only Foreman of Company No. 2. Born and raised in North Stonington, Connecticut, Brown enlisted in Company G of the 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in 1862. During the Civil War, he saw extensive action at Fredericksburg, Drewry’s Bluff, and Cold Harbor, serving alongside Lieutenant Courtland G. Stanton, his cousin Abel Brown, and Edwin Lewis—all future Westerly firefighters. Following the war, Brown relocated to Westerly and went to work in the telegraph business. He joined the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1 shortly after his arrival in 1866 and spent the next five years as a hoseman on Engine Company No. 1. When the Fire District established the new company in 1872, Brown was elected Foreman—a position he held every year until the unit was disbanded in 1877.

Operating the heavy hand pumper was a grueling physical task. It required dozens of men working double-deck brake handles in rapid, exhausting shifts to draw water from static sources like the Pawcatuck River or town cisterns and draft it through leather hose lines. The company regularly put the rig through rigorous trials after maintenance, frequently turning out in full uniform to test its performance around town.

Beyond their fireground duties, Company No. 2 was celebrated for its vibrant camaraderie and high spirits, which were often documented with humor in the pages of the Narragansett Weekly (the predecessor to The Westerly Sun). Officers frequently hosted lavish suppers at the engine house for members and guests. At one notable gathering of seventy men, official business yielded to an informal call to "go for it," resulting in a feast large enough to feed a regiment. During that same event, Congressman Dixon himself joked that he was likely invited to speak because he was "more windy than any other person present," while expressing heartfelt pride in having his name attached to the company. The local press also tracked the friendly rivalry between The Ones and The Twos, playfully teasing the foremen after hunting trips and reporting on humorous incidents—such as the Assistant Foreman "rescuing" a full-grown rag doll from a chimney fire on Mechanic Street, which the company jokingly kept as a mascot and vowed to educate at its own expense.

Alongside these lighthearted moments, the company shared deep bonds of brotherhood during times of tragedy. Following the death of member Edwin P. Berry, Jr. in April 1873, the company adopted formal resolutions of sympathy, draped their engine house in mourning for thirty days, and attended his funeral in full uniform. These were the first documented displays of mourning as a department for a comrade who had died before his time. Both companies had Civil War veterans in their ranks, and their military experience in battle had surely begun to leave its mark. Leadership throughout these years remained remarkably stable under Foreman Warren W. Brown, alongside officers such as Oliver Davis, Hiram D. Palmer, Byron D. Green, Ned T. Hurd, Albert Taylor, and Abel Brown, supported by dozens of active hosemen.

Despite their dedication, the aging hand engine soon became a lightning rod for bitter local politics and social friction as steam technology advanced. Townspeople poked fun at its bulky, high-framed silhouette, remarking that it resembled an old hay cart. Meanwhile, a fierce operational rivalry erupted between the men of the modern steam engine (The Ones) and the hand-pumper crew (The Twos). Tensions escalated into legendary wet-down battles where firemen targeted each other's hats with high-pressure hose streams.

While the steam engine could generate higher pressure over longer periods, it required time to build up steam in its boiler. The hand engine, by contrast, could draft water immediately, routinely getting a stream onto a blaze long before the steamer was ready. The rivalry came to a head when the foremen of both companies made a high-stakes wager: a contest to see who could throw a stream of water the farthest, with the loser buying the winner a keg of b**r. The Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. crew won the challenge when their stream cleared the top of the downtown Baptist church.

What had begun as a friendly contest only deepened the animosity between the crews. By 1877, the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1 had had enough of the rivalry; sharing the firehouse had become too toxic. During a monthly meeting, Company No. 1 passed a resolution formally demanding that the Board of Engineers grant them sole possession of the shared Union Street firehouse, dissolve the Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2, and turn over all of Company No. 2's equipment to them. They declared that if these demands were not met, every member of Engine Company No. 1 would resign from the department entirely.

This operational friction between the volunteer companies, paired with internal politics and the imminent arrival of a modern municipal water system, signaled the end of the hand-pumper era in Westerly. In February 1877, under increasing pressure, Chief William P. Coy and the fire district passed a formal resolution disbanding the Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2, subsequently transferring all of its equipment to Engine Company No. 1.

The trusty "Hay Cart" was placed into storage until 1886. Members of Rhode Island Company No. 1 stripped all markings of the former company off the engine and replaced them with their own name. After sitting unused for years, the engine was sold at auction to E. R. Pendleton for just thirty-five dollars. It was later acquired by C. B. Cottrell & Co., who intended to break the machine down for scrap brass and metal ornaments. However, the old engine was saved from destruction when members of the Veteran Firemen's Association of Pawtucket caught wind of its fate. Recognizing the pumper’s historic legacy, they reclaimed the machine and brought it home to Pawtucket.

In Pawtucket, the once-mocked pumper was transformed into a legendary champion of New England muster competitions. Stripped down and tuned strictly for distance, the engine set astonishing records in high-stakes water-throwing contests. At a meet in Worcester, Massachusetts, the crew threw a stream of water 204 feet—even after a brake handle snapped mid-pump, forcing them to hold the apparatus together with a simple rope. Keeping the name "Rhode Island No. 1" on the hand engine, the crew went on to dominate meets in Fall River, Springfield, Providence, Lowell, and Charlestown, frequently capturing top honors against dozens of competing crews.
Back in Westerly, the old pumper's original brass nozzle vanished over the decades. Used in the legendary 1870s water battles, the historic nozzle was finally identified in the early 20th century, stored safely in the Peleg S. Barber hose house on Liberty Street.

Though the disbandment of Company No. 2 in 1877 marked the end of an era for Westerly, the engine itself proved its worth long after its local retirement. Transformed from a ridiculed "hay cart" into one of the most famous competitive hand pumpers in New England history, the original N. F. Dixon, Jr. apparatus survives to this day—beautifully restored and displayed in an Arizona museum, painted in honor of the Pawtucket Veteran Firemen’s Association that saved it from the scrap heap. The history and legacy of the N. F. Dixon, Jr. Engine Company No. 2 carries on every time the bell tips for a run or when visitors see their engine on display. Though the men who manned the engine at fires and parades have long since passed, the engine—and the department they helped build—remains

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/117/The-Ones-and-The-Twos

09/21/2026

Creating More Good Days: Westerly Firefighters Give Back 😍

The Westerly, RI Chapter of Project Fire Buddies would like to extend a huge thank you to One Of One Athletics for hosting and organizing the Glow in the Dark Bowling Tournament for our community! 🎳

A special congratulations and thank you to the Westerly Fire Department members who took home the tournament win and generously donated their $2,802 in winnings to Project Fire Buddies! 🏆😀

We are incredibly grateful for this support. Donations like this help us continue our mission of creating more good days for children battling critical illnesses and their families.🤩

In November 2025, the Westerly Chapter became the first Project Fire Buddies chapter in New England, helping bring this incredible mission to the community.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our mission and helps us create more good days for these children and families. ❤️

Westerly Fire Department

09/09/2026

Creating More Good Days: Westerly Firefighters Give Back

The Westerly Chapter of Project Fire Buddies would like to extend a huge thank you to One Of One Athletics for hosting and organizing the Glow in the Dark Bowling Tournament for our community!

A special congratulations and thank you to the Westerly Fire Department members who took home the tournament win and generously donated their $2,802 in winnings to Project Fire Buddies!

We are incredibly grateful for this support. Donations like this help us continue our mission of creating more good days for children battling critical illnesses and their families.

Project Fire Buddies (PFB) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by firefighters committed to supporting children facing critical illnesses and the families standing beside them.

Today, PFB has grown to more than 140 fire department chapters across 13 states. In November 2025, the Westerly Chapter became the first Project Fire Buddies chapter in New England, helping bring this incredible mission to our community.

If you know a family with a child battling a critical illness, or would like to learn more about Project Fire Buddies, please reach out to:

Sarah Britner - President, Westerly Chapter – Project Fire Buddies | Firefighter, Westerly Fire Department - [email protected]

Or visit www.projectfirebuddies.org

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our mission and helps us create more good days for these children and their families.

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/116/Creating-More-Good-Days-Westerly-Firefighters-Give-Back

09/06/2026

The Oldest Fireman in Line: The Remarkable Life of Courtland G. Stanton

Born in North Stonington in 1840, Courtland G. Stanton—known fondly throughout his life simply as “Court”—left an indelible mark on both his country and the Westerly community as a soldier, skilled tradesman, public servant, devoted firefighter, and businessman.

Early Life and First Steps in Firefighting
As a young man, Courtland moved to Stonington, Connecticut, the town where his family originally lived, where he established himself as a painter. It was during this period that his lifelong dedication to the fire service began. In 1858 Court joined the Undine Engine Company No. 2 of Stonington Borough, an early volunteer company that served as the precursor to the Stonington Steam Fire Engine Company. Even as a young firefighter in Stonington, Court showed the steady resolve and readiness to serve that would define his entire life.

Civil War Service: The 21st Connecticut Volunteers
When the Civil War broke out, Courtland stepped forward to answer the nation’s call. Encouraged, and influenced by his grandfather, John Stanton’s legendary service in the French and Indian, and Revolutionary Wars, it was said John Stanton who fought for the British in the French and Indian War, and against them in the Revolution, was wounded eighteen times in battle. In August 1862, he enlisted in Company G of the newly organized 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The regiment mustered in at Norwich under the command of Colonel Arthur H. Dutton, and after being placed in service, Court was appointed to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Stanton saw extensive action across the Southern theater, taking part in major campaigns. He marched and fought in pivotal actions, including the Battle of Fredericksburg, the infamous "Mud March," the Siege of Suffolk, and operations in New Bern and the Defenses of Washington.

On May 16, 1864, the 21st Connecticut engaged in fierce combat at the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, where the regiment suffered devastating casualties, losing 150 out of 600 men in just about two hours. At 4:30 AM on May 16, Confederate General Beauregard launched a surprise counteroffensive on Union lines. A dense morning fog blanketed the low lying battlefield, limiting visibility to a few yards and causing widespread confusion. Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom attacked the Union right flank, occupied by Brig. Gen. Charles Heckman’s brigade of the XVIII Corps. Heckman’s brigade was struck unexpectedly in the blinding mist, overwhelmed, and quickly routed. Heckman himself was captured along with hundreds of his men, leaving the extreme right of the Union line completely exposed and vulnerable to total collapse.
Positioned near the far right of the Union line was the 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, commanded at the time by the regiments second in command, Lt. Colonel Thomas Burpee. As adjacent units dissolved and fled through the fog, the 21st found itself entirely isolated and facing an advancing Confederate force on both its front and right flank. Recognizing that Confederate troops were wrapping around his position, Lt. Colonel Burpee ordered his men to realign into an L shape by "refusing" (bending back) the right wing of the regiment. This formation allowed them to engage the enemy on two fronts simultaneously at close range. Thick smoke and fog prevented the 21st from seeing other Union units, and cut off from brigade headquarters, Lt. Colonel Burpee received no higher orders. He walked calmly down the regimental line beneath heavy fire to keep his men steady and maintain fire discipline. For over three hours, the 21st Connecticut held its ground against repeated Confederate assaults. The fighting was so intense that men expended upwards of 100 rounds of am******on per musket, causing black powder to foul their barrels.
With am******on nearly exhausted, weapons misfiring from heavy buildup, and no reinforcements arriving, Lt. Colonel Burpee recognized that holding the position any longer meant total encirclement. He executed an orderly, disciplined retreat back to the Petersburg Road, preventing the regiment from being surrounded or destroyed.

Courtland, then serving as First Sergeant for Company G, received a battlefield commission prior to Drewry’s Bluff to the rank of Lieutenant. After the battle, Court served on the staff of Gen. Charles Devens at the headquarters of the 3rd Division of the 24th Army Corps as Acting Engineer Officer and Chief of Pioneers. He was among the first to enter the Confederate capital on the morning of April 3, 1865, and was the first officer, not a prisoner, to enter Libby Prison.
Though wounded in service—for which he was granted a federal military pension two decades after the war—Courtland served faithfully until the regiment mustered out in June 1865. His military service earned him immense respect back home, and the Westerly Business Men’s Association formally presented him with an officer's ceremonial sword and belt. This honor was acknowledged in writing by Captain E. E. Whipple of the First Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in 1898, prior to the Rhode Island Volunteers themselves leaving to serve in the Spanish-American War.

Returning Home: Westerly, "Bohemia," and Civic Duty
Following the war, Courtland returned to New England and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he opened a successful painting business. His craftsmanship and entrepreneurial drive brought substantial prosperity, allowing him to build a fine home at 8 Spring Street in Westerly and establish a beloved seaside cottage named “Bohemia” at Pleasant View Beach (now known as Misquamicut).
Court was deeply engaged in veteran advocacy and civic affairs throughout his adult life, serving as an active leader in the Budlong Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). Alongside fellow veterans such as J. A. Babcock and R. V. Woods, and fellow officers like Lieutenant John B. Brown who also settled in Westerly after the war and later attended the regiment’s annual reunions throughout Connecticut, Court organized Decoration Day ceremonies to ensure the sacrifices of Union soldiers were never forgotten, to honor fallen comrades, and to spend time with veterans who shared the same hardships. Additionally, he was a dedicated member of Franklin Lodge No. 20, F. & A.M., and held a strong connection to Calvary Baptist Church.

27 Years with the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1

In 1884, Courtland once again answered the call to public safety by helping organize Westerly’s volunteer fire service. He served as an organizer and charter member of the Alert Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 under Foreman Samuel Cottrell, who would later become Chief of Department. For the next 27 years, Court remained an active ladderman with the "Hooks," responding to calls across Westerly and surrounding districts.
His fellow firefighters noted that even as he approached his 61st birthday, he remained "as Alert as ever," earning recognition as likely the oldest active firefighter in line during department parades and gatherings. Courtland served as treasurer for the Alert Hook & Ladder Company for many years. His unique legacy of service stretched from hand-pump engines in Stonington in 1858 all the way through the modernizing era of Westerly's fire department—climbing ladders with a hook in hand and helping rescue people from blazes. This was notably demonstrated in 1896 during a fire at a hotel in Pawcatuck, where members of the Alert Hook & Ladder Company responded promptly, rescuing several people down ladders from the burning building.

A Community Mourns a Faithful Comrade
When Courtland G. Stanton passed away at his home on Spring Street in 1911, the town of Westerly paused to pay tribute. On the morning of his funeral, local stores and places of business closed their doors out of respect for the veteran soldier, businessman, civic leader, and firefighter.
Conducted by Rev. Frederick C. A. Jones, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the service was filled to capacity with neighbors, civic leaders, G.A.R. comrades, Westerly firemen, and fifty members of Franklin Lodge No. 20 in full regalia. At the close of the service, the casket was taken to Forest Hills Crematory near Boston where, in accordance with Mr. Stanton's often expressed wish, his body was cremated. His life of sacrifice, bravery on the battlefield, and nearly three decades of devotion to the Westerly Fire Department remain a proud chapter in the history of our department and town

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/115/The-Oldest-Fireman-in-Line-The-Remarkable-Life-of-Courtland-G-Stanton

08/17/2026

Join us in congratulating Past Foreman Keenan Homsi for 25 years of service and Life Membership to the Westerly Fire Department and Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2. Thank you, Keenan!

08/05/2026

Overturned Vessel Recovered from Pawcatuck River

On Monday, August 3, 2026 at approximately 8:35 p.m., Westerly Dispatch received a report of an overturned vessel in the Pawcatuck River.

Volunteers from the Westerly Fire Department, along with Pawcatuck Fire Department, The Westerly Ambulance Corps, and the Westerly Police Department, responded and located an unoccupied 12-foot vessel overturned near River Bar and the downtown bridge. Shortly afterward, the vessel broke free and became lodged alongside the River Bar building.

Marine 30, PFD’s Marine 2, assisted by crews utilizing our NRS rescue raft, freed the vessel and towed it to the Main Street boat ramp, where it was turned over to the Westerly Police Department.

All units cleared the scene at approximately 9:52 p.m.

Units: Car 31, 33, 34, 391, 394, 396; Marine 30, Squad 3, Special Hazards 1, Engine 3, Utility 2

Mutual Aid: Pawcatuck Fire Department, Westerly Ambulance Corps, Westerly Police Department

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/114/Overturned-Vessel-Recovered-from-Pawcatuck-River

07/14/2026

Help Save Lives — Donate Blood

The Westerly Fire Department is encouraging our community to help replenish our local blood supply. Blood cannot be manufactured or imported—it can only come from generous volunteer donors.

Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives, providing lifesaving care for trauma patients, cancer patients, mothers experiencing childbirth complications, and many others who depend on blood transfusions every day.

If you’re eligible, please consider making an appointment to donate. Every donation truly makes a difference.

Learn more and schedule your donation here: https://bit.ly/4vs9Yfj

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your family and friends. Together, we can ensure lifesaving blood is available when our community needs it most.

06/23/2026

Up the Ladders: Groundbreaking First Summer of Westerly’s "Hooks"

By the summer of 1884, the historic town of Westerly, Rhode Island, was growing rapidly, but its fire protection was missing a critical piece of the puzzle. While the Westerly Fire District relied heavily on the muscle of the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1, they were missing something vital: a dedicated ladder company.
When a bad fire tore through P.S. Barber’s Soap Works on Mechanic Street in 1883, the community faced a harsh reality. Without a specialized ladder crew, firemen couldn't easily vent roofs, rescue trapped citizens, or access upper stories.
Enter the volunteers. In March 1884, a group of civic-minded citizens took matters into their own hands and organized the Alert Hook & Ladder Company Co. 1. Strikingly, they didn't wait for the official Westerly Fire District to build them; they formed as a proud, independent outfit. Though independent, they immediately offered their services to the town.
They were regional pioneers. The "Hooks" were the very first ladder company in Westerly and the immediate Westerly-Pawcatuck area. To find another ladder truck, you would have to travel down the shoreline to the Pioneer Hook & Ladder in Stonington Borough, or further west to the Mystic Hook & Ladder in Mystic, Connecticut.

Foundations, Outfitting, and the 45-Second Drill
The brand-new company set up its first home in a firehouse hastily constructed behind the Leonard House on Commerce Street. To lead them, they chose a veteran who knew exactly how to handle a crew under pressure, Sam Cottrell. Cottrell was a highly respected former member and past foreman of the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. 1. His expertise bridged the gap between the established engine and the new laddermen.
To get to work, the company needed an apparatus. Financed by $1,250 in donations from prominent local families, they purchased a state-of-the-art, horse-drawn ladder truck built by Rumsey & Co. out of Seneca Falls, New York. It came heavily stacked with an assortment of ladders ranging in size up to 45 feet.
Shortly before the summer heat rolled in, the company outfitted its members in crisp new uniforms capped with sharp, white firefighting helmets. On May 15, 1884, their rigorous training officially began. According to the Westerly Sun, the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. held their very first public drill at the Grist Mill on Main Street. The results were spectacular. The Hooks arrived on the scene, successfully deployed their ladders to their intended spots, and sent a fireman scaling all the way to the Grist Mill's roof in just 45 seconds. As the summer wore on, the company kept up the intense drilling. They quickly bonded with their closest counterparts, the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co.1, the B. F. Hoxie Engine Co, Mystic Hook & Ladder Company of Mystic, the Pioneer Hook & Ladder Co, Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co, and Neptune Steam Fire Engine Co of Stonington Borough traveling to attend regional parades, picnics, and social events—solidifying their place in the local firefighting brotherhood.

The Strategy: Hook and Steam
In the 1880s, the division of labor between an engine company and a ladder company was a matter of life and death. The methods required precise coordination to beat the clock.

This tactical relationship meant everything in 1884. The massive steam engines of the day took time to get to work. When an alarm rang, the steamer had to position itself near a water source (like the Pawcatuck River, or a cistern), drop its hard suction hose into the water, light a literal fire in its boiler, and wait to build enough steam pressure to propel water through the lines.
The laddermen of the Alert Hook & Ladder had a distinct advantage: speed. While the steam pumpers were still building up pressure, the Hooks could gallop up, throw their ladders against the burning walls, and immediately get to work with buckets and hooks. They checked the spread of the fire and got water onto the flames before the engine lines could even go live.

Baptism by Fire: The Vincent Lane Barn Fire
On August 21, 1884, the Alerts finally faced their true test.
It was a hot Monday afternoon, just before 3:00 PM, when a chaotic shout of fire echoed near Vincent Lane, (present day Vincent Ln no longer exists, but it was in the area of the State Boat Launch on Main St across from McQuades)A barn owned by Thomas Barber was heavily smoking. The structure was being rented out as a crowded storehouse for old rags and junk by a local peddler named Isaac Alberts. The fire was roaring heavily on the second floor—a nightmare scenario for a building filled with combustible fabrics.
True to their name, the Alert Hook & Ladder Company sprinted to the scene and arrived first. Assessing the danger, they immediately threw their New York-crafted ladders up against an adjacent barn owned by S.C. Sullivan to prevent the fire from jumping structures. Scaling the roof of the Sullivan barn, the Hooks formed a rapid bucket brigade, pouring water down onto the flames from above to hold the line.
Minutes later, the Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co. thundered up. They dropped their drafts into the nearby river, fired up the steamer, and got their high-pressure hoses into operation. Working in perfect harmony, the two companies quickly brought the roaring barn fire under control. The later investigation deemed the cause to be spontaneous combustion—the pile of rags had been heavily soaked in oils and left in the summer heat.

A Lasting Legacy
The aftermath of the Vincent Lane fire was a triumph for the new volunteers. The Board of Engineers of the Westerly Fire District and the veteran members of the "RI Ones" gave immense credit to the Alert Hook & Ladder Company, explicitly praising their incredibly prompt response and their discipline at the scene.
That summer proved beyond a doubt that Westerly desperately needed its laddermen. The independent company proved its worth so thoroughly that it was eventually adopted as an official company within the Westerly Fire District.
The Alerts later moved to a shared firehouse on Union Street right alongside their old friends, the Rhode Island Ones. In 1895, they were joined by a brand new outfit—the Cyclone Steam Fire Engine Co. 2. Together, this trio created the historic backbone of the volunteer fire service that protected Westerly for generations to come.

For over 140 years, the Hooks have made a profound and lasting impact on the Westerly Fire Department. Built upon a fierce tradition of service and uncompromising standards, the company has produced generations of veteran firefighters, officers and chiefs of the Westerly Fire Department

https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/111/Up-the-Ladders-Groundbreaking-First-Summer-of-Westerlys-Hooks

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