Structure Fire - Main Street

 Public Information Office                                                                                                                                                June 27, 2025

Essex Junction, VT—At 1451 today, Essex Junction Fire, Essex Fire, Essex Rescue, and Essex Police were dispatched to 149 Main Street in the City of Essex Junction for a structure fire with smoke and flames showing. 

EJFD EMS Capt. Vinny Westphal (EMT-P) was returning to the city and arrived on the scene within seconds of dispatch confirming the working fire, and requested that a second alarm be dispatched. 

A second alarm adds a Mutual Aid from Williston Fire (Ladder 2), St Michael's Fire (Engine 8), and Vermont Air National Guard Fire (Engine 6). Additionally, it requests a standby engine from Winooski Fire to cover the city, allowing our crews to focus on the immediate call. 

EJFD Assist. Chief Jim Kellogg arrived in car 9, 3 minutes after dispatch, and was met by the property owner, who reported the home was vacant and that he was the only one who had been on the property. Assist. Chief Kellogg reported heavy fire conditions coming from the rear basement of the structure, and fire extending across the back of the residence, and assigned Ladder 3 with fire attack and Engine 2 (EFD) with water supply and exposure protection.

Ladder 3 arrived, followed moments later by Engine 2. These crews pulled hose lines to the front door and rear of the structure and completed the water supply from a fire hydrant in the home's front yard. Their crews extinguished the fire at the rear of the structure and stopped it from spreading to a neighboring house.

Engine 7 arrived on the scene, and their crew was sent inside, joined by the Williston Fire Chief. This crew did a primary search of the residence and went to the second floor for a fire extending into a second-floor bedroom, where they found a fire extension in the attic.

Engine 1 (EFD) was assigned to do a secondary search of the house. VTANG Fire was assigned to the basement to investigate and control the home's power; additional crews assisted with fire extinguishment and overhaul. VT Gas and Green Mountain Power also assisted in controlling utilities on the scene.

The efforts of all crews on the scene stopped the fire rapidly, with official fire knockdown completed within 15 minutes of the initial dispatch. The home had a high fire load, with hoarding/heavy storage conditions throughout the empty rental home. No residents or first responders were injured.

VT State Fire Marshal Investigator, driving through the city at the time of the incident, stopped and offered help. With their assistance, the fire was determined to be accidental and caused by heat from light igniting combustible materials in the home's basement.