Fire Marshal Reports Fire on Old Colchester Road Ext. is a 'Crime Scene'

UPDATE as of 8:45 p.m.

When Oakdale Fire Chief Gary Murphy arrived at 24 Old Colchester Road Ext., Fire Marshal Raymond Occhialini said, the house was "fully involved" and engulfed in flames.

And so for the second time in as many days, an Old Colchester Road structure is gutted and in both cases, arson is not just suspected but a near certainty. And in the case of tonight's blaze, it's the third time for this location. 

"Due to the previous history, I've called in state police and the state fire marshal to help. Someone intentionally set fires at this house twice before. This looks to be the third time," Occhialini said.

No one was charged in either of the previous fires. Occhialini said this fire likely began at the back of the house. The previous fires were started outside; one by an electric meter and the other by the chimney. He said in one case, the fire was set the night before the house was set to be sold. 

"Is it a crime scene? Yes, it is," he said.

Indeed, crime scene tape was stretched across trees creating a perimeter several hundred feet from the house where deep tire tracks and impressions could be seen in the still visible slush and snow heading toward the house. Montville and State police, detectives and investigators were on the scene interviewing people and comparing notes and at one point, pulling Occhialini away to confer. 

With flames still visible and fire fighters perched atop ladders and several seen through soot stained window, the fire that was called in around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, was still not fully extinguished by 7:30 p.m. 

Firefighters from all Montville departments -- Montville, Oakdale, Mohegan and Chesterfield -- as well as Gardner Lake, Bozrah and Salem were on scene and three separate perimeters were set up to keep people far away. 

Original story:

Another Old Colchester Road fire is being reported. The structure at 24 Old Colchester Road is "fully involved" reports say with calls for buidling evacuations and a possible missing person.

Montville Patch is on the way to the scene.