Crystal Mall restaurant catches fire
Feb. 2—WATERFORD — Crystal Mall was evacuated Thursday morning after a fire started in the food court.
Director of Fire Services Michael Howley said the 10:39 a.m. fire started in one of the restaurants in the food court area, though he did not say which restaurant.
No injuries were reported.
Howley said the fire, which at one point could be seen from the roof of the building, was under control within 20 minutes. He said the fire went through part of the building's ventilation system.
Howley added crews were using their own fans as well as the building's built-in ventilation system to clear the smoke out of the building. He said the mall, but not the individual restaurant, would be able to re-open within 30 minutes.
The fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Cohanzie Fire Department, due to its close proximity, was the first of the town's fire departments to arrive at the mall and notified other departments to respond. The New London Fire Department also responded.
The mall's smoke detectors triggered an automatic alarm, including the sprinkler system in the building.
Howley said the building department and health department also responded with health officials determining if other restaurants were impacted by the blaze.
