Fireworks ‘launch device’ ignites Fourth of July fire
Local boaters rushed to help put out the brush fire on Indian Point
July 7, 2026
Quick action by Stonington residents Cory McDonald and Dominic Zanke contained the blaze until the Stonington Fire Department arrived. Photo courtesy of Genevieve McDonald.
By Jessi Hardy
STONINGTON–Fourth of July festivities on the Stonington Pier were briefly interrupted on July 4 when fireworks caused dry grass on Indian Point to ignite.
The Stonington Fire Department was hosting a dunk tank fundraiser to raise money for new thermal cameras when, at approximately 8:45 p.m., Stonington assistant fire chief Carl Shahan received reports of two separate fire incidents—a brush fire and a structure fire. The reports prompted a large emergency response, including mutual aid from Sedgwick and Deer Isle.
Thanks to the quick actions of local residents Cory McDonald and Dominic Zanke, the situation was largely under control by the time the fire department arrived on scene. When McDonald and Zanke noticed the fire from aboard their boat, they raced in with buckets of water to help contain the blaze.
"I just did what I thought was the right thing to do," McDonald said. "Dominic [Zanke] and I were watching it unfold and nobody was doing anything. I figured someone had to do something, so we did. I’m glad it turned out the way it did; it could have been way worse."
Once responders arrived on scene, crews determined the incident was a single brush fire, Stonington fire chief Steve Rittmeyer said. The fire started when a malfunctioning fireworks launch device fell over and ignited the grass, he said.
"[Zanke and McDonald] saw the fire, came ashore with buckets, and put out the bulk of it," Rittmeyer said. "We're lucky they were there and jumped in to make it happen."
Despite the interruption, the department successfully reached its fundraising goal and the remainder of the night’s events proceeded without incident.
"We met our goal for purchasing the two thermal cameras, so that was great," Rittmeyer said. "We had a great response [to the dunk tank] and it seemed like people had fun. We had a lot of fun doing it, and that was really exciting."