Acting East Lyme Fire Marshal Raymond Hart said the store would be closed the rest of the day as the damage is evaluated, repairs are made and cleanup is completed. He said his office and Ledge Light Health District will evaluate the building to determine when it is safe to reopen.
According to Hart, dispatchers received a call reporting the fire around 6:11 a.m. Flanders Fire Department responded to the fire, which was upgraded to a second-alarm fire, along with mutual aid from Waterford, Old Saybrook and Poquonnock Bridge.
He said the fire originated in one of the deli cases in the seafood department; he said it appears the compressor in the unit overheated, igniting the insulation and creating flames eight to 10 feet tall. The sprinkler units kept the fire contained to the area, and firefighters got it knocked down by 6:19 a.m.
There were no injuries or structural damage to the building, though some of the suspended ceiling and electrical work will need to be replaced. Due to the smoke and water damage, much of the merchandise had to be disposed.
