Fire gutted the library of Teachers’ Memorial Middle School in Norwich, Connecticut, November 5, melting computers, burning books, damaging furnishings, and causing classes to be canceled for at least a week. Fire officials said the fire broke out in the library shortly before 6:30 p.m., when about 50 children were in the cafeteria or gymnasium. All escaped unharmed, although a janitor was treated for injuries.
Firefighters had the blaze controlled within 10 minutes, the Norwich Bulletin reported November 6. Although arson was ruled out as a cause, investigators are unsure what started the blaze. “It started just inside the door in the library,” Norwich Fire Chief James Walsh said. “It’s easy to figure out where it started, but hard to figure out how it started.”
The school board is waiting until after Veterans Day to decide when the school will reopen. Administrators said the cafeteria will be used as temporary classrooms to make up for those damaged. A local contractor estimated that demolition and cleanup work on the library could be completed by November 17.
Posted November 11, 2002.