NORWICH – The Norwich and Oxford Fire Departments, assisted by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, the Department of Transportation and Oxford Ambulance, responded to a structure fire at 5169 State Highway 12 in the Town of Norwich yesterday, quickly knocking down the blaze before it could spread to an adjacent building at CZ-USA and Dan Wesson Firearms Manufacturing.

The fire was first reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. and shut down State Highway 12 from the Wal-Mart Supercenter to the Halfway House bridge for approximately three hours, said Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo, who was on the scene.

According to Chawgo, the fire – which is still under investigation by the Chenango County Bureau of Fire – began in the basement of one of two log cabin structures at CZ-USA, where firearms are test-fired and ammunition is stored. The blaze was contained to the basement, he added, although there was extensive heat and smoke damage to the structure’s first floor.

“You could hear the ammunition popping,” said Chawgo, who added battling a basement fire is always challenging. “Basically, you’re climbing down a natural chimney and you have to get through all of that heat and smoke that wants to come up.”