Connecticut
Blown transformer sparks fire, power outage at downtown branch of Hartford Public Library: official
The downtown branch of the Hartford Public Library is closed on Tuesday after a transformer blew and sparked a fire, according to the mayor’s office.
The mayor’s office said there was a report of an explosion and smoke in the basement at 500 Main St. just after 9:32 a.m., power was out, and emergency crews responded.
They found heavy smoke and an electrical unit was on fire.
They later determined that a transformer in the basement had blown and caused a fire.
The mayor’s office said they Hartford Fire Department, Hartford Police Department and Eversource isolated the issue, contained the fire and brought the situation under control at 10:43 a.m.
Eversource said none of their transformers were on fire and all of their transformers are operational.
“During our investigation, we determined that customer-owned equipment failed, leading to the outage at the Hartford Public Library and Hartford City Hall. Our crews remain on scene and continue to coordinate with the city to evaluate the repairs that need to be made,” Eversource said in a statement.
No injuries are reported.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our first responders for their quick, coordinated response,” Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said in a statement. “We’re continuing to work closely with our public safety teams and Eversource to monitor the situation and ensure that power is safely restored to impacted areas.”
The library and the city are looking into ways that the can reopen as soon as possible.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our first responders for their swift and coordinated efforts,” Bridget E. Quinn, Hartford Public Library president and CEO, said in a statement. “I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Library staff for their commitment to safety throughout this challenging situation. We continue to work closely with the City of Hartford, our public safety partners, and Eversource to monitor developments and ensure power is safely restored to all affected areas.”
Connecticut
Man arrested after stealing from Connecticut Children’s Hospital donation bin
ENFIELD, Conn. (WFSB) – Police arrested a Connecticut man on Sunday morning after he allegedly stole bottles and cans from a Connecticut Children’s Hospital donation bin.
Officers received a call at around 8 a.m. for a report of a larceny from a “Cans For Kids” donation bin at located on Raffia Road, according to the police department.
Police said they used used local surveillance cameras and municipal license plate readers to identify a vehicle and suspect.
Officials identified the individual as Joshua Wilcox of Broad Brook
With the help of Wethersfield police officers, Wilcox was found and detained. Enfield police arrested Wilcox and charged him with sixth-degree larceny and first-degree criminal trespass.
It was also revealed that this is the second incident involving Wilcox at the same location, police said.
No further details were released.
Eyewitness News will provide more details as soon as they become available.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
Connecticut
Danbury OKs expanded building plans for west side cancer center
“(T)he applicant is proposing a minor building addition of 1,300 square feet to the basement level because the specialized proton equipment required a slightly larger support space,” said Allie Smith, an associate planner with the city’s professional planning and zoning department.
Smith is referring to what would be the second proton therapy cancer treatment center between New York City and Boston, after the Connecticut Proton center in Wallingford, which is scheduled to open later this year.
Proton therapy is considered advanced radiation treatment because it uses the positively charged particles to “target cancer with exceptional precision,” reducing damage to nearby healthy tissue.
The expanded building plans for Danbury Proton are the latest development in a prolonged effort to serve western Connecticut and nearby New York residents with the novel cancer treatment.
The project, which was set to break ground on a 3-acre site overlooking Danbury Municipal Airport this spring, is “very busy marketing and selling the bonds,” a spokesman said.
“We’re ready to break ground as soon as we close on the bonds,” said Drew Crandall on Friday. “We are in conversation with investors every day and we are making good progress.”
In March, Danbury’s City Council agreed to use its bonding power to help Danbury Proton get low-cost financing under a “conduit issuer” agreement. Around the same time, the city’s Planning Commission extended approvals for the project, which were scheduled to expire in July.
All that means that Danbury Proton expects to open its 17,000-square-foot facility at 85 Wooster Heights Road in late 2027 or early 2028.
“The day is coming when we will be treating patients with revolutionary proton therapy cancer treatment,” Crandall said in a newsletter to supporters last week. “Countless patients and their families will benefit from proton therapy.”
Connecticut
Fire extends from attic of well-known Clinton donut shop
Several businesses and residents are displaced after a well-known donut shop in Clinton caught fire Saturday morning according to fire department officials.
Clinton Volunteer Fire Department officials say officers received reports of a fire at Beach Donut where they found heavy smoke and a fire extending to the attic.
They say people were evacuated while firefighters work to bring the fire under control.
One person was transported by Clinton EMS for evaluation.
The displaced residents are being treated by the American Red Cross and the fire is still under investigation by the Clinton Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit.
The fire department received mutual aid from several fire stations and EMS from neighboring towns.
According to the Beach Donut Facebook, the business will be temporarily closed until notice.
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