
A $2,500 reward is being offered to help solve an arson investigation into a fire that broke out over the weekend and destroyed part of a vacant mill building.
The fire was reported on Sunday shortly before 1 a.m. when crews responded to the former Stone Container property on Summer Street and could see a glow in the sky as they made their way to the scene, according to the Local 1567 IAFF, which represents members of the Torrington Fire Department.
The “complexity” of the blaze prompted mutual aid from numerous area fire departments. Multiple parts of the historical complex collapsed because of the “extensive” fire conditions, union officials said.
Crews doused the building with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, officials said. A significant portion of the vacant building was gutted during the fire.
According to the Torrington Police Department, the fire is being investigated as arson. A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for the fire, police said. The reward is made possible through the Connecticut Arson Tip Award Program, according to police.
“Arson is a reckless and intentional crime that puts lives at risk, damages property, and jeopardizes the safety of our whole community,” the police department said in a statement.
“If you have any information — no matter how small — that could assist in this investigation, we strongly encourage you to come forward,” police wrote.
Anyone with information can contact the Torrington Police Department Tip Line at 860-489-2065 or the CT Arson Hotline at 1-800-842-7766.