NORWICH – A barn fire in Norwich is being ruled as accidental by fire investigators with the origin of the fire being around an electric water heater located in the barn.

According to Norwich Fire Department Chief Jan Papelino, a 911 call was received at 9:06 p.m. on Thursday with the caller stating there was a barn on fire on Wells Road in Norwich.

“It was fully involved when I got there, there was a county highway worker who is also a fireman called it as fully involved when he got there earlier as well,” said Papelino. “It was approximately a 40x40 barn, with about seven total animals in the barn.”