NORWICH, CT - At 11:38 P.M. on Wednesday, May 25th, Norwich Engine 2 requested a working fire be transmitted for the Capehart Mill across from their quarters on North Main Street. Engine 2 grabbed their own hydrant on the corner of 5th Street and laid a supply line. Their crew stretched a line over the railroad tracks and began suppression.

While responding, the Battalion requested the second-alarm, and on arrival transmitted the third-alarm. Engine 3 and the truck’s crew used saws to cut the metal fencing for better access to the 'Delta' side. Truck 1 backed down 5th Street and set up for defensive operations with their ladder pipe. Squad A laid a line from North Main and 4th to establish a secondary water supply, which fed Truck 1. Truck 25 backed down 6th Street and set up with their ladder pipe. Engine 21 laid in from a hydrant on the corner of Central Avenue and 7th Street, but ended up using a hydrant at the end of 6th Street to feed Truck 25.

Two ladder pipes and four hand lines darkened down the fire within an hour and crews remained on scene throughout the night wetting it down. Engines 31, 32, 33, 41, 52 and 62, as well as Ladder 5 sat in staging and then covered the city. The Mohegan Tribal and New London Fire Departments provided the FASTs while American Ambulance staged a crew. The Mashantucket, Submarine Base and UConn Fire Departments responded as the CERRIT for metering and potential hazardous materials run off. The fire departments were assisted by Norwich Public Works, Public Utilities, the Police Department and Canteen 1.

There were no injuries, and the Norwich Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.