Delayed Dispatch to Deadly Norwich, CT, Fire Investigated
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
Apr. 16—NORWICH — Authorities are investigating all circumstances surrounding a fatal fire on Otis Street from last week, including an anomaly in their communications system that caused a delay in the response, according to the Norwich Fire Department.
The city's main fire department was delayed by about four or five minutes to the incident due to a malfunction in the local dispatching system, said Norwich Fire Department Battalion Chief Marc Benjamin.
Carmen Vizcaino, 44, and her daughter, 8-year-old Skylynn Owens, died in the blaze, Norwich fire officials said.
The fire at the home in the 30 block of Otis Street is currently under investigation by the Norwich Fire Marshal's Office with the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, the Norwich Fire Department said in a news release Wednesday. The investigation will look into "all circumstances surrounding the fire including the anomaly within our communications system," according to the fire department.
"The aspects of this investigation are ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available," the department said.
The fire occurred in the early morning hours of April 10. Firefighters were called to the home just before 1 a.m. for the blaze and the first arriving units reported flames on the second floor, the fire department said.
Vizcaino and her daughter lived on the second floor of the three-family, 3,900-square-foot house. Firefighters learned that there were two people unaccounted for on the second floor, but could not find them in time, according to Battalion Chief Michael Dziavit.
Conditions got so bad that all firefighters had to leave the building and begin defensive operations. This included additional hoses and aerial streams to protect neighboring buildings and to knock down a large volume of the blaze. Once the fire weakened, crews returned to the building to extinguish it, according to Dziavit.
The fire was placed under control by 4:30 a.m., Dziavit said.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries in the blaze, and six people were displaced, according to Dziavit. The house also sustained fire and water damage throughout.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact Investigator Dupointe #1025 at 860-886-5561, ext. 3141; by email to [email protected]; or by calling the Department's Anonymous Tip Line at 860-886-5561, ext. 4. All information can be kept confidential.
This story used prior reporting from staff writers Jesse Leavenworth and Alex Wood.
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