Capehart Mill Fire 4/27/10

[Megster]

Fire consumes sprawling Capehart Mill in Norwich

By GREG SMITH
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Apr 27, 2010 @ 07:00 AM
Norwich, Conn. —

Nearly 100 firefighters remain at the scene this morning of a fire at the sprawling Capehart Mill off North Main Street in Norwich — the third fire at a vacant mill in three days.

The blaze was first reported at 3 a.m. City firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the roof of the aging structure.

"We had fire lighting up the sky," said Norwich Fire Chief Kenneth Scandariato.

Because of the size of the structure and health hazards associated with the mill, Scandariato  said he called on aid from numerous surrounding towns. At the height of the fire, he said there were 18 fire companies at the scene, including departments from as far as New London and Groton.

Firefighters quickly surrounded the building with aerial fire trucks, pumping a steady stream of water onto the building. Firefighters concentrated on the southern end and were able to stop the fire from spreading to the nearby Atlantic Packaging.  

"Everyone worked in concert," Scandariato said. "This is a classic type mill fire."

Along with firefighters, Scandariato said he has called in the state Department of Environmental Protection and local health agencies to test air quality for asbestos and hazardous runoff into the river.

"This is an expensive proposition for the city and it couldn't have happened at a worse time," Scandariato said.

Because there were several other fires over the weekend, Scandariato said he has asked the Norwich Police Department to watch other "target hazards," across the city.

"I'm taking steps to protect the city," Scandariato said.

No injuries were reported at the fire.

The fire continued to smolder at 6:30 a.m. Scandariato said firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the day and night and area roads will remain closed.

 
Copyright 2010 Norwich Bulletin. Some rights reserved

Sonofabitch, fire happens at 3AM and I missed it.

And the other fires in Norwich this weekend took place off of Shipping St. and Terminal Way, which is across town from Capehart.  Capehart was unsafe anyway, any look at bing maps bird's eye view can show you that.  If you're curious to see if, search for 8th St. Norwich CT 06360 and you should see the structure as it was a few years ago.  The roof had already collapsed.

Guess I know what's on my to-do list today...  

PS, almost 5 years to the day after the InterRoyal Mill Fire (4/26/05) http://meganmcgory.com/index.php?id=34

[insanebeaver]

I'm sure security at NSH will be affected cuza this. the five year mark makes this seem fishy

[Megster]

I think it's more of a coincidence because they supposedly caught the kids who set that one (I say supposed because there was some odd timing of certain political decisions surrounding that mill that very day...I was more surprised when they announced something like a year later that they caught some 13 year old kid for setting it). 

Capehart = Serial arsonist, sure (the 3 other fires in Norwich) but not the same one for that mill.  And I completely agree about heightened security for NSH, as well as Ponemah Mill (down the street in Taftville, once the world's largest textile mill--currently vacant but also undergoing renovations to become condos).  I'm kind of wondering what this arsonist would try to go after next.  Most of the big mills burned down already, LOL