Swanton Fire Forces Four Families Out Of Their Homes Last Evening

[Henry]

A fire forced at least four Swanton families out of their homes this evening. It happened at about a quarter after six at an apartment complex on Merchants row. Firefighters say residents noticed smoke coming out of the basement of the building and called 911. The fire quickly spread to five apartments in the building. Several were occupied at the time -- but everyone managed to escape. No word on the cause of that blaze.

[Henry]

Some lucky people - Check out the details:

http://www.wptz.com/news/22763265/detail.html

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE

FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT
INCIDENT: Apartment House Fire
CASE #: 10A200901
TROOPER: Det. Sgt. Nally VSP
FIRE INVESTIGATOR: Asst. Fire Marshal Boyd
STATION:    Middlesex VSP
CONTACT #:  802-229-9191

DATE/TIME: March 5, 2010
LOCATION: 72-74 Merchants Row, Swanton, VT 05488
OWNER:  John & Jan Tessier
LOCATION: St Albans, VT

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On March 5, 2010 at approximately 1813 hours the Swanton Fire department was dispatched to a house fire at 72-74 Merchants Row. On arrival they found fire coming from the basement of the house. Fire Departments from Highgate, Sheldon, St Albans City and Town, Phillipsburg and Clarenceville Quebec were called to assist. The fire chief called the Vermont Fire Unit for an origin and cause investigation. Members of the Vermont State Police Fire Unit and an Investigator from the Division of Fire Safety responded to the scene on March 8, 2010, to investigate.

The investigation showed the cause of this fire to be electrical and not suspicious.  The apartment house was considered a total loss. There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

[NorthFairfaxBoy]

Another? That section of Swanton has had many many fires over the years.  I recall another bad fire there when I was young.