Report of smoke leads to street closing, evacuations

New London - A report of smoke coming from a sidewalk utility cover in front of the former Parade News building led to evacuations and rerouting of traffic along that section of State Street.
New London Fire Department was one the scene about 3:30 p.m.
Firefighters suspected the smoke rising from an underground electrical service was coming from a blown transformer but were waiting for the arrival of a worker from Connecticut Light & Power Co. to turn off electricity to the area. Meanwhile firefighters entered the basements of adjacent buildings looking for problems, and businesses along that block of the street, between Eugene O'Neill Drive and Bank Street, including Caruso?s Music and Thames River Greenery, were evacuated.

                           THE DAY

An Electric Scene

Published on 11/16/2007

Buy Photo By Tim Cook ? New London firefighters clear businesses on State Street between Eugene O'Neill Drive and Bank Street Thursday after an electrical fire under the sidewalk in front of the former Parade News. All businesses were closed and residents were kept from their apartments until the situation was brought under control.