Arson Suspected in Blaze That Gutted Oakdale Day Care Center

Montville Fire Marshal Raymond Occhialini is investigating the fire that gutted the now former Creative Care Daycare at 1127 Old Colchester Road

“You just have a gut feeling,” said Fire Marshal Raymond Occhialini about the call deeming the structure fire at 1127 Old Colchester Road suspicious. And that call would lead to the arson investigation currently under way by the Connecticut State Police and the state fire marshal.

No injuries were reported.

“When the first firefighter (on the scene) comes up and says, ‘Hey it looks like there’s a problem’ and you see that fire is burning on the outside and in places it’s not supposed to be, you get that feeling. That gut feeling. It’s suspicious so you start the process.”

Montville Police Detective David Radford worked with Occhialini; a search warrant had t be obtained and signed in the middle of the night by a judge in Essex, Occhialini said.

A cause and origin investigation was conducted and included an “accelerant detection canine.” State troopers assigned to the state fire marshal assisted Radford and Occhialini and detectives from Eastern District Major Crime and Troop E were notified and responded to the scene.

By the time the site had been searched and a full investigation begun with the state being called in, it was now 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Anyone with any knowledge or information regarding this fire is asked to contact the State Police at Troop E (860) 848-6500.  All calls will be kept confidential.

Tax sale had been set

The building that housed Creative Care Daycare, the business owned by Wendy Summers, was set to be sold in a superior court-ordered foreclosure sale originally set for last March and then again in September but finally pushed to January of 2014, according to court documents. Documents show Summers was in debt nearly $17,000, hence the sale. The far market value, with land and building, was $290,000. A listing from this summer showed she was asking $315,000 for the site. 

Summers told Patch last February that in addition to owing tens of thousands in taxes to the town, business had been worse than slow:

“I’m kind of upset,” Summers said at the time, “but there’s nothing I can do. The economy is just kicking our butts. There’s no help out there. I wish there was but there’s not. I understand the town needs their money, they really do. I am not upset about the town. I am upset there’s no help for small business, there’s no help for the little people.”

Summers was in business since 2003.