By Layla Burke Hastings
[email protected]
WINDSOR, Vt. — No one was killed in a fire that burned down a log home in Windsor Sunday evening.
The Windsor Fire Department responded to the home located on Back Mountain Road at 5:20 p.m. Sunday after a structure fire was reported via 911. The home was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived and ammunition was going off in the home, according to Windsor Fire Chief Kevin McAllister.
At the time of the fire, the property was occupied by one homeowner who was later transported to Ascutney Hospital via Windsor Emergency Medical Services, per protocol. Officials closed Vermont Route 44A in Windsor between Vermont Route 44 and Cole Hill Road for the two hours crews battled the collapsing structure.
First responders at Windsor Fire Department arrived quick to the scene to conduct defensive exterior operations. With no hydrants in close proximity, seven other local municipality fire departments also responded; Ascutney, Claremont, Cornish, Hartland, Reading, Springfield and West Windsor.
“I was there within a couple minutes and the rest of the responders arrived in under five minutes,” McAllister said.
The average recorded wind speed and wind gust speed as of 5:18 p.m. was 0 mph.
According to McAllister, two cats belonging to the property are still missing. They are suspected to be in the area and residents are asked to keep their eyes out.
As of Monday afternoon, the Windsor Fire Department is “not at liberty to reveal the name of the man,” according to McAllister.
By 8:45 p.m., Vermont Route 44A was reopened and the fire was under control, but not without a few situations hampering access to the structure.
“We were hampered by ice conditions, the driveway and ammunition going off,” said McAllister, describing the protocol used as solely exterior control of the fire.
With ammunition going off within the house and no rescues needed, the numerous departments were only able to work from the exterior and could not attempt and interior recovery.
“[Once we got the homeowner out] there was no one in the house so we had to wait for ammunition to stop going off,” he said.
No other properties or businesses were affected in the immediate area. There is no information as to whether the property was insured.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to McAllister.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.