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.