The Norwich Fire Department recently responded to a number of calls involving fire and flooding. (Photo by Tyler Murphy).

NORWICH - Norwich Fire Chief Gerald Parry reported a busy weekend for the City of Norwich Fire Department.

An incident began at 1:57 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, when the department was dispatched after a direct call to the station reported a large amount of water in the basement at 27 South Broad Street and entering the adjoining basement through the wall at 25 South Broad Street.

Firefighters responded with the city DPW and Water Department and immediately discovered several breaks within the building’s fire suppression system (sprinkler system), along with a large amount of water within the first-floor and basement areas of the large unoccupied commercial building.

The water was shut down by the Water Department at the street, and NYSEG arrived within minutes controlling the gas and electricity to the building and removing hazards.

Once the building was deemed safe to operate within, the fire department began removing thousands of gallons of water from the building, and the operation continued until approximately 9:30 p.m. that evening, Parry reported.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at 5:24 p.m., Norwich firefighters were alerted by the Chenango County Communications Center for an odor of smoke at 125 East Main Street.

The duty crew arrived within minutes of dispatch and reported no visible smoke or flames showing exterior.

Crews entered the multi-family residential building to search for sources and encountered heavy smoke in the third-floor hallway, where they requested a “box” alarm assignment indicating a working fire.

Crews deployed hose lines into the building while simultaneously searching for the source of the fire, and located a fire in an apartment and began fire suppression along with a search for any potential victims.

Crews extinguished the main fire and determined the apartment was free of occupants at the time of the incident.

The fire was extinguished within approximately 10 minutes of arrival.

Crews remained on scene for approximately 30 minutes to assist with salvage and overhaul and fire investigation, and the fire was confined to one apartment.

The apartment suffered smoke, water and heat damage, other apartments suffered minor water damage, and the cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, while duty crews were handling multiple medical emergencies within the district, Norwich firefighters were dispatched to a third-alarm response at Grace View Manor apartments, 80 Calvary Drive, for the report of a general fire alarm.

The Chenango County 911 dispatch center advised responding units of multiple alarms coming from the second floor of the multi-family residential building.

On arrival, crews reported nothing visible from the exterior.

Crews then entered the building to search for sources and encountered smoke on the second floor.

The source of the smoke was quickly identified as a small cooking fire within an apartment on the second floor, and the fire was reported as being under control within minutes of arrival.

Firefighters quickly mitigated the smoke conditions by using battery-operated fans, and once the smoke was cleared, the fire alarm system was reset and all Norwich units returned to service.

Residents within the building safely returned to their respective apartments.

Parry credited career on-duty staff, off-duty personnel and volunteer firefighters with handling the incidents and thanked members, mutual aid companies and outside agencies for their assistance and dedication, listing Norwich DPW, the Water Department, the Police Department, the Codes Department, and NYSEG Electric & Gas.

No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported during the incidents.

- Information from the Norwich Fire Department