10/13/06                                                             

UPDATE

STATE POLICE, STATE FIRE MARSHAL, LOCAL FIREMARSHAL

INVESTIGATE THREE FIRE SCENES

The Office of The State Fire Marshal, Connecticut State Police Troop C, the Mansfield Resident Trooper’s Office, State Police Major Crime Detectives and the Mansfield Fire Marshal have combined their efforts and are conducting a criminal investigation into three fires that destroyed three structures over the last three days in Mansfield.

On Tuesday 10/10/06, a fire was reported at 9:50. The fire was in a barn located at 138 Mount hope Rd in Mansfield.  The building was a total loss.  Investigators have not determined the cause of this fire.

On Wednesday 10/11/06, at about 1:41 p.m. a structure fire was reported in a cabin located at 23 Tower Hill Cut Off in Chaplin, CT.  This structure was a total loss.  Investigators have determined this fire to be arson. 

On Thursday 10/12/06, at 12:09 p.m., a structure fire was reported at a chicken coup storage building located at 863 Rt. 89 in Mansfield.That structure was a total loss. Investigators have determined that this fire was arson.  

As the three fire investigations proceed, State Police Detectives assigned to the State Fire Marshals Office have utilized the State Police specialty dogs trained to detect accelerants. In addition Trooper 1, the State Police helicopter, has been utilized in this investigation. 

Investigators are requesting that anyone who may have seen anything was in the area, or have any knowledge regarding any one of these fires, to please contact fire investigators. All calls will be kept in strictest confidence.

Call State Police Troop-C 860-896-3200  or the ARSON TIP LINE  1-800-84ARSON

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M/Sgt. J. Paul Vance