Fire Damages Apartment Building

By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — A fire at 25 Union Street in Springfield has displaced multiple residents.

The blaze started early Monday morning. Springfield Fire Department, with the aid of other nearby departments, were able to put the fire out quickly. No one was injured during the fire, with the only casualty being a pet lizard owned by one of the tenants.

Due to a hazmat issue on Route 11 that the fire department had responded to earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Paul Stagner was forced to split up his resources. After the Springfield fire truck arrived on the scene, a crew of four first responders observed fire in the middle of the apartment building, and on the left and right sides of the structure. There was also reportedly smoke coming from the windows and roof as well. Firefighters were able to breach the entrance of the apartment from which the fire originated, where they were able to get the flames under control and put them out with the help of mutual aid. Residents of other apartments in the building were also alerted, and quickly vacated the building.

“We did everything we could until we had assistance from mutual aid. We got out everything we could with safety lines, including pets. Then once mutual aid arrived we were quickly able to put out the fire. Unfortunately all of the tenets are now displaced but they are all being taken care of by emergency housing organizations. Now there is an investigation underway to determine the cause of the fire,” said Stagner.

One resident, Sandra Royce, had hoped to return to her apartment later Monday evening, but was told that would be impossible. She had not been aware of the fire at the time, and only when firefighters knocked on her door and told her she needed to vacate immediately, did she find out what had happened. After leaving, she realized her cat was still inside and went back in to discover smoke had filled her bathroom, and was making its way into her bedroom. She is hoping to get help from the Red Cross to put her in a hotel in Rutland closer to her children.

Robert Gokey, whose apartment the fire started inside of, said his family was able to get out safely. Unfortunately, the family’s pet lizard perished in the fire, but they were able to get the rest of their pets to safety. It appears that all of the family’s belongings were destroyed by either fire or smoke damage. Luckily, Gokey said that the family does have insurance and was waiting on confirmation for a room at a nearby hotel. According to Gokey, he believes a faulty bathroom fan may have been the cause of the fire, but wasn’t certain as the family was asleep at the time the fire started.

“That place has had some issues over the years. The porch is collapsing, the house is falling apart,” said Gokey in regards to the structure of the apartment building.

The landlord, who according to Gokey lives locally, was not present at the scene when reporters spoke to the fire department and residents. Gokey had said he spoke to the landlord over the phone earlier in the day but the Eagle Times could not reach them for comment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.