Mansfield, CT, Deputy Chief Honored for Heroic House Fire Rescues

Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Danielson of the Mansfield Fire Department risked his life by entering a burning house without SCBA to rescue two people.

By Christine Dempsey

Source Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.

Nov. 26, 2025

2 min read

Mansfield Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Danielson did not have SCBA on when he entered a burning house to rescue two people.

Nov. 25—MANSFIELD — A fire official who went into a burning house without breathing equipment last month and rescued two women was honored Monday night.

The Mansfield Town Council, fellow firefighters and more than a dozen people in the audience gave Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Danielson a standing ovation at Town Hall.

"People ask, 'How does it feel to be a hero?' " Danielson told the crowd in council chambers. "I like the other 'H' word, and that's 'humble.' I'm humbled by the opportunity to effect a rescue of that magnitude."

Danielson was quick to spread the credit, ticking off a list of the other agencies involved in the rescue by treating the injured — including him — and putting out the fire, from the Tolland County dispatchers to firefighters to Windham Hospital and its paramedics to Bridgeport Hospital, where he was flown for treatment.

The 55-year-old New Jersey native suffered smoke inhalation and was in the hospital for two days after the Oct. 21 rescue at an alpaca farm on Warrenville Road. One of the women, Carol Dauphin, 79, died; her daughter survived. A man was able to get out on his own. Three of four dogs also survived.

Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth presented Danielson with a framed commendation that read: "Your decisive actions, courage, and unwavering commitment to saving lives led to the rescue of three residents and three dogs from an active and rapidly spreading fire. Despite the intense conditions and personal risk, you entered the burning home without hesitation, exemplifying the highest ideals of the fire service."

"The Town of Mansfield extends its deepest appreciation for your heroism and your continued dedication to the safety and well-being of our community, and we honor the profound effort you made to save every life possible. Your actions bring great credit to the Mansfield Fire Department, and your courage stands as an inspiration to our entire community."