CHENANGO COUNTY – Late yesterday morning, the Norwich Fire Department – with mutual aid from the Sherburne Fire Department and Chenango County Bureau of Fire – responded to a small fire at Chobani headquarters on state Highway 320 in Norwich. Later in the evening, heavy rainfall swept through the lower portion of the county resulting in flood conditions.

At approximately 10:47 a.m. yesterday, the Norwich Fire Department responded to a call for a commercial building fire at Chobani headquarters located at 147 state Highway 320. The Sherburne Aerial truck also responded as per the county’s mutual aid agreement. Upon arrival, first responders discovered copious amounts of smoke billowing from the rear section of the building, said authorities. Contractors, in the process of gutting a segment of the structure while using a welding torch, had cut through a pipe coated in a petroleum-based antifreeze, which authorities believe had originally been applied to prevent the pipes from freezing. The chemical subsequently ignited causing the wall behind it to catch fire. At first, those present attempted to douse the flame themselves. Chobani security officers quickly evacuated the building and secured the area. No injuries were reported.