UPDATED: Third Street fire in Norwich ruled arson
Norwich — City firefighters quickly put a stop to a Monday morning arson fire on Third Street because the home had functioning smoke detectors and is close to a fire station, according to Chief Kenneth Scandariato.
The Fire Marshal's office on Monday afternoon determined the fire was "incendiary" or intentionally set.
Scandariato said the call came in about 5:30 a.m. Monday. Occupants of the home at 7 Third St. escaped safely because smoke detectors alerted them, he said.
Upon arrival, firefighters found contents burning in a room on the first floor toward the back of the building. The fire was under control in about 15 minutes and firefighters spent about an hour on scene.
Scandariato said eight people temporarily have been displaced because of the blaze, but the building will be livable in the future. The American Red Cross is helping the eight residents.
Records show the building is a two-story duplex that also encompasses 9 Third St.
The chief said city firefighters “did a nice job” but also got lucky because the fire occurred just a couple blocks from the Greeneville station, which is at 446 N. Main St.
No one was injured.
Police said in a news release issued Monday afternoon that the fire caused "moderate damage" to the building, and the Red Cross is helping to temporarily relocate the family of two adults and six children.
The city fire marshal investigated the fire, with help from the city police department fire investigation team and an Accelerant Detection K-9 team from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, according to a news release.
The police department fire investigation team is also investigating a July 3 fire at 3-7 S. Second Ave. in Taftville that the fire marshal also ruled an arson. Posted signs offer a potential reward of $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
"At this time, there are no direct indications that these two fires are related," police said in a release.
Police ask anyone with more information about the fires or other suspected incidents of arson to call Officer 1st Class Robert Smith or Officer Scott Dupointe of the police department fire investigation team at (860) 886-5561, ext. 6; the police department’s anonymous tip line at (860) 886-5561, ext. 4, or the Connecticut Arson Hot Line at (800) 84ARSON/(800) 842-7766.
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