A fire at the vacant Thames River Apartment Complex on Crystal Avenue in New London Thursday morning was intentionally set, according to the New London Fire Department.
The fire was reported around 7:15 a.m. and crews found fire between the second and third floors of the high-rise building, which is scheduled to be torn down next week.
The fire started in a bathtub in a third-floor apartment and stairs near the apartment, according to the fire department. They said the New London fire marshal's office determined that the fire was intentionally set.
Crews from Waterford and Groton brought their ladder trucks and helped searched all nine floors Thursday. One person was evaluated at the scene, but not transported to the hospital, fire officials said. No firefighters were hurt.
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In 2018, 117 families were moved out of the high rises and relocated with other Section 8 vouchers.
There’s a large fence around the property with a sign that reads "abatement and demolition."
The mayor said the first phase of demolition, where they dispose of a lot of the materials inside, is already complete.
He said the city has done its best to secure the buildings, but there was evidence that trespassers got inside and set fires.
Anyone with information is asked to call the fire marshal's office at 860-447-5294.
