Mill fire in Norwich

Norwich, Conn. (WTNH) - A huge fire at an abandoned mill in Norwich is under investigation. Fire officials say it's the third suspicious fire in Norwich in as many days.

It broke out at the old Capehart Mill on North Main Street early Tuesday morning.

It took 18 different fire companies to bring it under control. It's a massive building, originally a textile mill, then a factory where they made radios and record players.

"A very large, old vacant, abandoned mill type structure and everything that comes along with that construction, the oil soaked floors and things like that," explained Chief Kenneth Scandariato, Norwich Fire Department.

Those conditions made for a dangerous situation, so most of the firefighting was done by surrounding the building with tower ladders and trying to drown the flames with thousands of gallons of water. It was an impressive sight, and a frightening one for neighbors.

"It's really scary. I don't know why that would catch on fire because there's nothing going on back there," said Sandra Miller of Norwich.

Early Sunday morning, there was a fire at an abandoned building on Terminal Way. No one was hurt and it was quickly put out. Then Sunday afternoon, a former bar on Boswell Avenue caught fire. Fortunately no one was hurt there, either. The chief says there are too many similarities.

"They're all vacant structures with no utilities attached. They should not have started on fire, and with the type of fire we find on arrival, clearly they've had some help," said Chief Scandariato.

Chief Scandariato brought in State Police and federal agents from ATF to investigate the fires and Norwich Police are stepping up patrols around other empty buildings that might be attractive targets for an arsonist.