Crime & Safety
Fire Wrecks Chinese Restaurant In Vernon, Rest Of Plaza Spared
A fire destroyed a Chinese Restaurant in Vernon Monday into Tuesday, but the rest of the plaza was spared, officials said.
VERNON, CT — Authorities were crediting a quick response and a firewall system for most of the Post Road Plaza being spared from a fire that gutted a Chinese restaurant overnight Monday into Tuesday.
The initial call came in as 20 seconds before midnight on Monday. It took about 90 minutes for the fire to be under control, authorities said. It destroyed the inside of the Oriental Café, located at the Post Road Plaza on Route 30.
Flames were shooting through the roof when fire crews arrived, officials said.
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One veteran official said it was as extensive an interior fire as he's seen. Vernon Town Manager and Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro said the quick response by fire and police crews prevented "potential catastrophic damage" to the plaza.
Officials said a firewall system also prevented widespread damage to to adjacent businesses, considering how serious the restaurant fire was.
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The fire was still under investigation on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo Credit: Tim Jensen; Chris Dehnel
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