Thompson, CT — The cause of Wednesday’s fire in a Thompson multi-family apartment has been determined following an investigation by the Thompson Fire Marshal’s Office.
At approximately 9:03 PM on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, the Community Fire Company received a direct call to their station reporting fire alarms sounding at 17 Floral Ave. When crews arrived 5 minutes later, they spotted smoke coming from a rear second-floor window. The fire was quickly located and extinguished. Read our full article on the fire here.
According to Thompson Fire Marshal James Seney Jr, an origin and cause investigation determined the fire, which started in a second-floor apartment bedroom of 17 Floral Ave, was caused by the failure of a submersible water heater within a 10-gallon aquarium being used as a fish tank. Following the failure, the fire spread to combustible components of the aquarium, the wooden stand the aquarium was seated on, the wall covering against the aquarium, and some assorted combustibles on the floor area.
Apartment “C”, where the fire occurred, sustained smoke damage on the second and 3rd floors. The two other apartments in the 3-family apartment building constructed in 1900 were undamaged.
Anyone who may have additional information on this fire is asked to contact the Thompson Fire Marshal’s Office at 860-931-6299.