An abandoned factory in Derby was so heavily damaged by fire Sunday morning that the building will be torn down, city officials said.
Fire crews were called to the factory on Caroline Street around 5:15 a.m. When they arrived the building was fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters said the roof caved in and the top floors collapsed.
The city said the damage was so extensive the building can no longer safely stand on its own and could collapse at any time. The mayor told NBC Connecticut she’s asked the state fire marshal to give the city permission to demolish the building. The factory is over 100 years old.
“The chief has notified us the building is in imminent danger of collapsing. The roof is down the second floor is gone,” said Derby Building Official Carlo Sarmiento.
The state of the building is making it difficult for officials to determine the cause of the fire, as it’s not safe for investigators to go very far inside. The state fire marshal said he’ll do the best he can to discover the cause.
This is not the first time the factory caught fire.
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“About a month or so ago there was a fire in there. The building is abandoned. So, we don’t know if there was people living in it or not, but they inspected the building the last time,” said Carmen DiCenso, Board of Alders President.
Fire officials continue to investigate.
