Date:12/01/18 Nature of call: Building Fire
Address: 58 / 60 Frost Place Time of Call: 12:55p
Type of Building: 2 ½ story duplex Number of Residents: 2
Number of Alarms and Times: 1stalarm @ 12:55p – 2ndalarm @ 1:03p
Under Control: 1:45p Injuries: No
Owner:Matt Frechette
Brattleboro Trucks on Scene:5 Brattleboro FF’s: 22
Assisting Agencies on Scene: Keene, NH FD; Rescue Inc; Brattleboro Police; Brattleboro Water Dept; Green Mountain Power; American Red Cross
Mutual Aid Towns on Scene: Keene, NH (RIT)
Mutual Aid Towns Covering Brattleboro Stations: Putney & Guilford, VT; Hinsdale & Chesterfield, NH
Action Taken:At 12:55pm Brattleboro Central Dispatch received a call of a building fire at 58/60 Frost Place. A 1stalarm assignment of Engine 2, Engine 4 & Ladder 1 responded and upon arrival reported smoke showing from the rear of the 2 ½ story, 2 family duplex and ordered a 2ndalarm be struck, recalling all Brattleboro personnel and bringing all Brattleboro apparatus to the scene. An attack line was stretched to the rear of the building where an exterior attack was initial made on the fire. Once the visible fire on the outside was extinguished the crew then advanced the hose line to the inside. As more help arrived a backup line was stretched in the front door of the fire apartment and a 3rdline was stretched into the adjoining apartment to check for fire extension. The main body of fire was declared knocked down at 1:31p and the fire was declared under control at 1:45p. Once extinguishment was complete fans were set up to remove smoke from the structure.
The building is a duplex apartment building with the owner and his girlfriend living in #58 and the other side (#60) was being renovated. The owner’s girlfriend woke up from a nap and smelled something “funny”. Upon investigating she discovered fire coming from the back door of the vacant apartment and called 911. She then exited the buildings with their 2 dogs.
The fire apartment (#60) was completely gutted by the fire while #58 received moderate smoke damage. The building is uninhabitable at this time and the occupants from #58 are with family.
The origin and cause of the fire was investigated by members of the BFD Fire Investigation Team and it was determined that the fire started in a plastic waste can full of rags that were being used to stain woodwork. The cause is accidental, being spontaneous combustion.
There were no smoke detectors in the building and though there were no injuries, had this fire happened at night, the outcome might have been different. BFD strongly urges everyone to have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on all levels of your home.
Contact: Michael Bucossi
Fire Chief
Town of Brattleboro
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