Fire Closes Vernon Dunkin' Donuts Friday Morning

VERNON, CT — A local Dunkin' Donuts doughnut and coffee shop was shut down Friday morning due to an apparent fire in the heating/air conditioning unit in the building, fire officials said.

Impacted was the Dunkin' location in the plaza at 30 Lafayette Square, near the intersection of routes 30 and 31.

Friday morning, the plaza's parking lot was invaded by fire trucks, an ambulance and local police.

According to Dunkin' employees who were evacuated outside the facility, workers started to smell something unusual in the shop at about 7:20 a.m.

Then, they said, staff all noticed that smoke was filling up inside.

Vernon Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Robert Babcock said the initial calls were for a structure fire at the site, but upon arrival, firefighters did not see any significant issues.

It was upon further investigation, he said, that firefighters noticed a small fire on the building's HVAC unit on the roof.

No injuries were reported and staff members at Dunkin,' along with two other local businesses were, in general, in good spirits as they awaited the status of he situation.

Babcock said the buildings are closed pending inspection from the local health department and fire marshal's office.