Veteran Plainville, CT, Firefighter Died of Blunt Force Trauma

Editor's Note: A ceremony to honor Plainville Firefighter Raymond Moreau will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 at the high school stadium. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Jul. 28—PLAINVILLE — Fallen local volunteer firefighter Raymond Moreau died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck, torso and extremities, according to the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who ruled his death an accident.

Moreau, 60, who was gravely injured at a fire scene and later died, is to be honored Tuesday by the town as multiple agencies investigate his death, officials said.

Moreau was outside a residential house fire on Maria Drive Sunday morning when he was struck by a piece of equipment Connecticut State Police said fell from a fire engine, a police news release said. He suffered a catastrophic leg injury at the scene and died in surgery at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, officials said.

He was a 35-year veteran of the department, officials said.

"Ray has volunteered tens of thousands of hours to the community," said state police Trooper Kate Coney during a news conference Sunday. "In addition to his service to the Plainville community, Ray was a loving husband and veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Firefighter Moreau was a consummate professional, dedicated servant, and will be missed dearly by his friends, family, and community."

The Plainville Town Council is hosting a ceremony in his honor for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plainville High School's Tinty Stadium. The public is invited to attend, officials said.

Coney said Monday there was no information available on what type of truck was involved in the accident.

The Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health agency, known as CONN-OSHA, is investigating and was at the scene of the accident Sunday, a spokesperson for the state Department of Labor said.

The Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime is the primary investigating agency with the support of the Connecticut State Police Fire Explosion Investigation Unit and the Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Squad, state police said in a news release issued Sunday.

"We are collaborating with OSHA and the State Attorney Christian Watson at New Britain Superior Court for this investigation," the release said.

Fire departments from around the area including Wethersfield, Southington, Bristol and Colchester have stepped in to help staff Plainville stations as the department mourns Moreau, according to a Facebook post made by the Wethersfield Fire Department.

Moreau was being called a hero by dignitaries across the state as condolences to the volunteer fire department continued to pour in.

"I am devastated for the Town of Plainville and the family and friends of Firefighter Moreau," said Attorney General William Tong in a statement issued Monday. "A former Marine and veteran of 35 years with the Plainville Volunteer Fire Department, Firefighter Moreau was the consummate public servant who bravely protected his community the way first responders all across Connecticut do day in and day out. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, members of his Plainville Fire family, and with all members of the extended firefighter community across the state."

Plainville Town Manager Michael Paulhus said Moreau gave countless hours to the community and was a good person, calling him a "fallen hero."

"This is a tremendous loss for the community," he said.

A memorial for Moreau sprang up in front of Engine 2 at the fire house on West Main Street, a witness said.

Gov. Ned Lamont in a news release directed all state and U.S. flags lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset on the date of interment, which had not yet been determined as of Monday afternoon.

Maria Road neighbors who witnessed the incident were reluctant to speak with the media Monday as local police guarded the home and a fire inspector surveyed the damage.

The dead end road was blocked for several hours Sunday and a group of residents gathered with the homeowner, bringing water and snacks.

Maria Road resident Jake Brown said his parents woke him up at about 6:30 a.m. to tell him the neighbor's house was on fire.

"The whole house was in flames," Brown said. " I didn't see the accident. But a couple minutes later, I saw a firefighter run down the street and flagged the ambulance."

Neighbors gathered on the sidewalk across the street to help the fire victims as they waited for the road to reopen so the Red Cross could assist, he said.

"We have a good bunch of neighbors," Brown said.

Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she was one of several who had given statements to state police. She recalled the person who was injured was behind one of four engines on the scene and then she saw him falling onto the sidewalk, where police, fire and paramedics assisted until the ambulance arrived.

The neighbors and the homeowner who watched firefighters extinguish the blaze were anguished over the accident, she said.

Staff writers Jessica Bravo and Josh LaBella contributed to this story.

© 2025 Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.. Visit www.journalinquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.