WINHALL -- A single-family residence was considered a total loss but no injuries were reported following a fire Saturday morning in Winhall.
Winhall Police and Rescue reported the alarm went out at approximately 8:38 a.m. Upon their arrival at 9 Avison Road, police and the Winhall Fire Department found the fire fully involved and threatening two adjacent houses and a large garage in close proximity.
Winhall Fire Chief Harold Coleman said the fire did not appear to be suspicious and was possibly caused by an electrical malfunction. Coleman said he believed the building’s two occupants, William and Cynthia Kilday, had been offered rooms at the Stratton Mountain Resort, as well as a condominium owned by friends.
The building was owned by Steven Avison of Winhall and was used as a rental unit. Police said Cynthia Kilday was at home at the time of the fire but managed to escape and alert a neighbor who call the fire department. The Kilday’s vehicle, a 2011 Honda Fit, along with the residence and all their possessions were lost.
"It’s still standing but it’s pretty gutted. I think it will need to be knocked down," said Coleman on Sunday. He said firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the single building, and he reported no injuries or heat exhaustion among the responding crews.
Assisting Winhall firefighters at the scene were the Stratton, South Londonderry, Weston, Peru, and Jamaica fire departments. A state police fire investigator was called for assistance in determining the cause of the fire.
-- Zeke Wright
Join The Conversation
Welcome to your discussion forum:
Verified accounts are now required for immediate posting. Please verify your e-mail address in Disqus, or sign in with your social networking account. You may also post using your e-mail address (which will remain private), but those posts will first need to be approved by the moderator. Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion or approval of the Bennington Banner. This forum encourages open, honest, respectful and insightful discussions; there is no need to be offensive. Read our guidelines.