NORWICH – A structure fire badly damaged a City of Norwich home early Sunday morning.

The occupants of the home escaped safely, but the house was heavily damaged before the fire was brought under control.

The fire began early Sunday morning at the house, located on 36 Gold St. A family of three was home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. According to Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo, a neighbor who was leaving for work saw the flames and alerted the family. “If not for him, things could have gone a lot differently,” Chawgo said.