Arson suspected in Montville fire

Montville, Conn. (WTNH) - Police in Montville say a fire that burned a popular shopping plaza may have been set on purpose.

The fire broke out early Tuesday morning. It destroyed several businesses in the Oakdale Plaza causing $1 million in damages.

Dogs trained to sniff out accelerants searched through the charred debris of what would have been the Oakdale Cafe -- and the scene of where the fire is believed to have started.

Owner Dotty Yaworski was set to open the cafe in just a couple of weeks.

She has invested $15,000 and had no insurance. Yaworski was supposed to meet with her agent Tuesday, the same day the fire broke out.

The Oakdale Cafe was one of eight businesses affected by the fast moving fire. A grim reality made worse by the now criminal investigation.

“When they first told me arson, I said ‘who could have done such a thing?’ That's what I said ‘who could have done such a thing?” Yaworski said. “‘Cause I'm not used to stuff like this.”

The owners of the Oakdale Plaza say they will rebuild because the tenants want to stay.

“Whether it was arson or accidental it really doesn't matter,” said owner John Diamantini. “We have to pick up the pieces rebuild and continue forward.”

Diamantini and his wife Kim say a million dollars in damage won't stifle their plans inspired by their tenants and their resilience.

“We will make more memories with something just a little different,” Kim Diamantini stated.

As many as fifty people worked in the plaza.