PUTNAM — Putnam Fire Marshal Scott Belleville determined that the fire that destroyed an articulated dump truck last week at the Putnam ash landfill was accidental.
Fire crews were called to the Putnam ash landfill just after 8 a.m. April 5 for a vehicle fire.  Firefighters found the engine compartment and cab of a large piece of yard equipment used to move ash engulfed by flames.
Workers had tried to put out the fire  using approximately 10 fire extinguishers without success.  Due to the location and lack of accessible water mutual aid from the East Putnam Fire Department was requested.  It took  a combined effort of the two fire departments using 25 firefighters and approximately 4,000 gallons of water to put the fire out.
Belleville said a hydraulic oil line sustained a catastrophic failure, spraying hydraulic fluid on the truck’s exhaust initiating ignition.  The fire rapidly grew in intensity as it was fueled by a steady steam of hydraulic fluid.   Damage to the 2011 John Deere 400D owned by AJ Letourneau Inc., a subcontractor to WIN Waste Innovations, is a total loss with an estimated value of $100,000.
The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was requested due to the large amount of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil carried in the dump trucks tanks.  Workers on scene were able to dam the hazardous fluids close to the burned truck to minimize the environmental impact.  Fortunately the fluids and runoff that were not contained flowed into the isolated truck wash holding tank where it could be pumped out.  A hazardous materials clean-up contractor was called to the scene to remediate surface materials affected.
No injuries were reported to employees or fire service personnel and the environmental impact is considered to be relatively minor.

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Elian Torrez


First, he kept them in the game with three terrific innings of relief.
Then he sent the game to extra innings with a run-scoring hit, setting the stage for a teammate’s game-changing home run.
And finally, he sealed PSA’s baseball team’s big-time win by striking out the final batter, helping the Mustangs to a doubleheader split Saturday at Winchendon.
Not a bad day’s work for Elian Torrez.
“Very good,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to help my team win. We have a good team and we showed it this game.”
It was indeed a good Saturday for PSA, rallying to win the first game 7-4 before falling 8-5 in the second to a Winchendon team that is one of the top teams in New England.
After Harry Roy put up his fourth straight strong start (including coming out of a bases-loaded no-out jam unscathed in the third inning), Torrez relieved with two outs in the sixth.
The Mustangs trailed 3-1 facing their final three outs when Jesus Fermin started the rally with a leadoff walk before Torrez followed with a triple to get them within 3-2. Omar Burgos quickly singled to score Torrez, and the game was tied. It went to the bottom of the seventh 3-3, and Torrez retired Winchendon in order, allowing for more fireworks in the eighth.
Chris Almanzar started the game-winning rally with a double down the third-base line. Ryan Hines, up next, dropped a bunt down the first-base line that the pitcher fielded but made an errant throw, allowing Almanzar to score the go-ahead run. A wild pitch moved Hines to second and a sharp single to left by Enger Paulino moved him to third.
Then came Fermin.
After a couple of off-speed pitches, Fermin saw back-to-back fastballs. He saw the first one well, then crushed the second to left for a three-run homer – his second of the year – to push the lead to 7-3.
“It felt amazing,” Fermin said. “When I hit it, I knew I got it. He threw me a fastball the pitch before, and I wanted him to throw it again.”
Torrez gave up a run in the eighth, but struck out the final batter of the game with a breaking ball.
Torrez pitched in relief in the second game as well, finishing the day with five strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. He went 3-for-6 with the triple, three RBI, and two runs scored over the two games.
“He was amazing,” said Fermin, who had three hits in six at-bats and four RBI himself in the twinbill. “He had a big hit and he did an amazing job on the mound. I have so much trust in him every time he pitches because he has so much confidence.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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Magdalena Myslenski. Photo by Marc Allard.


Quality over quantity. The Woodstock Academy girls’ track team is certainly not equal to the likes of East Lyme and Norwich Free Academy when it comes to numbers.
But the talent is certainly there. The Centaurs finished third in Div. I of the ECC last season and were seventh in the Class MM state championship.
The team only lost four performers from that squad.
“We might be able to do even a little better. It depends on a few pieces coming together tt,” said coach Josh Welch.
It will be about a month from when outdoor track started to when the Centaurs finally get on the track to compete against East Lyme on April 19.
Welch and his fellow coaches are planning to put together an intrasquad competition to not only replace the lack of competition but to also simulate a meet atmosphere prior to actually taking part in one.
Among the talented individuals on the squad are seniors Bella Sorrentino and Magdalena Myslenski. Myslenski qualified for the Nationals in discus a year ago and finished 11th in her division.
“That was for Emerging Elite and this time I’m hoping to the 130-foot mark and I feel like it’s coming soon so maybe a little higher than (Emerging Elite), who knows,” she said.
Welch feels that Myslenski has a good chance to make championship level at Nationals this season.
“Bella will almost certainly make it in the hurdles and both likely will take down some school records. Jill Edwards, if I can get her to be more consistent, is an ECC championship level high jumper. Juliet Allard will probably own the ECC and be up there in States in the 300-meter hurdles,” Welch said.
In addition, Talia Tremblay is starting to bring her 400-meter times back to where they were a year ago which could put her in the ECC championship discussion. Tremblay is also a solid 200-meter performer.
Add to that some strong distance runners in seniors Lauren Brule and Sydney Lord, junior Julia Coyle, sophomore Kira Greene, and freshman Olivia Tracy.
Bella Sorrentino is not only strong in hurdles but also in jumps and throws and her impact is important for another reason. Her willingness to attempt and succeed at different events.
Welch also has some younger athletes like sophomores Allard, Mia Sorrentino and freshmen Kadence Foster and Emma Weitknecht that he will be looking for development from over the course of the season.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy