On Monday, August 22nd @ approximately 16:18 hours, the South Burlington Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a building fire @ # 42 Airport Rd.
South Burlington Firefighters responded with all on duty personnel, with the first due Engine arriving within 3 minutes of the 911 call. Firefighters were faced with heavy fire conditions showing from 2 floors of a 2-story, wood-frame 6-unit apartment building.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the main body of fire in Apartment #6 and immediately began searching for any trapped occupants. Upon finding the apartment unoccupied, fire crews began extinguishing pocket of fire in the apartment and attic. BFD Tower 1 was used access the roof to vertically ventilate the building’s attic space. The fire was declared “under control” @ 16:47 hours. The fire apartment sustained heavy fire & smoke damage.
South Burlington Fire Department was assisted by the South Burlington Police Department, VTANG-FD, Burlington Fire, Williston Fire & UVM Rescue bringing a total of 37 personnel to the scene. St. Michael’s Fire & Rescue provided station coverage and responded to (1) EMS incident during the fire.
No civilians or fire fighters were injured during this fire. Damage to the fire apartment is estimated at $260,000. The adjacent apartment sustained some smoke damage but was able to be reoccupied the following morning. One person was left homeless from the fire, and one cat remains missing.
The fire is currently being investigated by the South Burlington Fire Marshal’s Office.