PUTNAM — A fire that destroyed a Mohegan Street garage and extensively damaged the attached duplex has been ruled as accidental.
Dec. 21, Putnam Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call from the resident at 9 Mohegan St. stating the residence was on fire.  First arriving Putnam Police Officers confirmed the working fire and evacuated the second apartment of the duplex and the neighboring house at 13 Mohegan St.  When firefighters arrived, the attached garage had already collapsed with fire extending into the residence as well as causing heat damage to 13 Mohegan St.  Firefighters worked for about an hour to extinguish the fire which had spread to the knee walls and attic.
After an investigation the Putnam Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the fire was accidental. Witness interviews and statements, confirmed by on-scene analysis and evidence, pointed to improperly discard smoking materials igniting combustibles in the garage.
Residents of the apartment typically smoked inside the garage and admitted to doing so prior to discovering the fire.  The fire was noticed when the resident investigated the kitchen lights flickering and immediately realized the entire garage on fire.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters and four adults, and one child were being assisted by the American Red Cross. If anyone has information concerning this fire or any other fire incident in Putnam, they are asked to call the Putnam Fire Marshal’s Office at (860) 963-6800 ext112.

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