Property damaged in New London
By Scott Bellile
A garage and a car were destroyed in a fire outside an apartment building near downtown New London Sunday, Aug. 7.
The property within the garage all belonged to the landlord, so tenants were not affected, according to Don Conat, captain for New London Fire Department.
The fire occurred outside an apartment unit at 113 E. Hancock St. shortly before 1:30 p.m. Conat said officer Cheri Johnson with New London Police Department was out patrolling when she noticed the garage on fire. Johnson evacuated the tenants.
“The people in apartments didn’t notice the fire until the police officer knocked on the door,” Conat said.
The cause remains under investigation. Regarding whether it appeared to be suspicious, Conat said, “I guess we can’t say. [I] really don’t know. Nothing jumps out at us, but never say never. It’s just undetermined right now.”
The fire burned through an electrical wire hanging above the garage and scorched a nearby power pole, Conat said. The wire connected the house to the pole.
The residence where the fire occurred contains three apartments. It is owned by Russell Diem.
The fire was the second to destroy a garage in the New London area in a week.
Investigators determined a fire that occurred at E8975 Worm Road in the town of Lebanon on Aug. 3 was an arson. Fernando A. Castillo, 21, was arrested in connection with that fire.