Michael Bucossi Leonard Howard III
Fire Chief Assistant Chief
Press Release
Date:07/14/19 Nature of call: Building Fire
Address: 25 Shore Rd Time of Call: 5:05am
Type of Building: 2 story / 2 family Number of Residents: 7 (5 in one apartment / 2 in the other)
Number of Alarms and Times: 2ndalarm@ 5:13am/ 3rdalarm @ 5:24am/ Special call for 2additional engine companies @6:11am
Under Control: 7:18am Injuries: No Fatalities: No
Owner:Ian S Leahy – Provincetown, MA
Brattleboro Trucks on Scene:6Brattleboro FF’s: 23
Assisting Agencies on Scene: Rescue Inc;BPD; Utilities Division; Green Mountain Power; Red Cross
Mutual Aid Towns on Scene: Hinsdale, NH; Putney, VT; Guilford, VT; Chesterfield, NH; Keene, NH; Spofford, NH; Greenfield, MA; Bernardston, MA
Mutual Aid Towns Covering Brattleboro Stations: Wilmington, VT; Dummerston, VT; Putney, VT; Westminster, VT; Northfield, MA
Action Taken: At 5:05am Central Dispatch received a call for a building fire at 25 Shore Dr. Engine 2 and Ladder 1 out of Central Station and Engine 4 out of Station 2 responded on a 1stalarm. Upon arrival at 5:13am Engine 2 reported heavy fire showing from the front of the building and ordered a 2ndalarm be struck, recalling all off duty Brattleboro Firefighters and bringing all Brattleboro apparatus to the scene. Engine 4 laid a supply line to Engine 2 from a hydrant on Eaton Ave and Engine 2 crew stretched a 2 ½” attack line, knocked down a big volume of fire from the outside, the advanced an attack line to the interior of the house. Information was quickly gathered that all of the occupants were out of the house and uninjured. Extinguishment of the fire continued by the interior crew and as more help arrived additional attack lines were stretched to help with fire attack. The fire was declared under control at 7:18am.
The large 2 family house is situated on a wooded lot at the corner of Putney Rd & Eaton Ave which made it difficult to access with apparatus. Also, hot temperatures and high humidity took a toll on firefighters, making it necessary to bring two additional mutual aid engines to the scene so personnel could be rotated in a timely fashion. Rescue Inc. responded to the scene with two ambulances and set up rehab for the firefighters, monitoring their vital signs and providing drinking water. There were no injuries of either occupants or firefighters though 3 firefighters were monitored at the scene for heat related issues.
One apartment was totally gutted by the fire and the 2ndreceived significant smoke damage. All of the occupants are being tended to by the American Red Cross to meet immediate essential needs, and the Red Cross and building owner are jointly working on housing for displaced occupants.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental, believed have started from hot embers from a nearby fire pit getting into items on the front porch.
The outcome of this fire could have been tragic had it not been for the fact that there were working smoke alarms which woke up the occupants, alerting them to the fire, and giving them early warning so they could evacuate safely.
Contact: Michael Bucossi
Fire Chief
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Once again
Thank you to our Brattleboro firefighters,neighboring units, Rescue and all who assisted.
We are fortunate in our town and area, to have such a dedicated and well trained team.