BLAZE AT GIRARD TOYOTA EXTINGUISHED

New London — Firefighters on Tuesday afternoon quickly put out a blaze that broke out in a transformer on the property of Girard Toyota, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to the call about 1 p.m., prepared to handle a much bigger fire because all they knew was that someone had spotted flames. The complex at 543 Colman St. consists of multiple buildings and parking lots full of cars.

According to Chief Henry Kydd, however, firefighters contained the flames to the transformer, which is attached to the dealership’s Car Service Collision building.

Fire Marshal Vernon Skau said the transformer is responsible for pulling and distributing power from solar panels atop the building. Kydd said the panels were installed within the past year.

Employees of the company evacuated the building Tuesday, but no one was injured in the fire.

Skau said the cause of the blaze was under investigation. 4 p.m. after a local man falsely reported that someone had gone into the dealership with a gun and ordered people to get on the ground.

Police, who evacuated the building, quickly discovered the report was a hoax. Police said the man had gone into the adjacent Mystic Cycle Center and reported the apparent hostage incident. Extra officers from Groton Town and state police also responded.

Police questioned the man at the bike shop after letting Brustolon employees back into their building and found that the man was apparently suffering from dementia. Police said that, at the time of the incident, the man truly believed that someone had come into the dealership with a gun, ordered people to get on the ground but let him leave because he had a doctor’s appointment. Police said they did not charge the man with falsely reporting an incident.