Lisa Massicotte
The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
SCOTLAND, Conn. — Firefighters were able to save animals inside a barn on Gager Hill Road that was mostly destroyed by fire early Tuesday afternoon.
Scotland Fire Marshal Dana Barrow said this morning the Scotland Volunteer Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the barn fire at 258 Gager Hill Road.
He said the blaze “appears to be accidental in nature.”
About half the barn was burned to the ground, but SVFD Chief Jason Beaumont said at the scene that firefighters were able to save a chicken coop located at the back half of the structure.
Barrow said this morning there were no animal casualties and animals were released from the barn, accompanied by approximately 40 firefighters who responded to the scene.
“It’s not something we’re used to,” Barrow said. “All of the chickens running around and dogs running around while they were fighting the fire was interesting.”
State voter records show Primitivo Viveros, 47, and Susannah Viveros, 53, live at a property with that address.
The barn itself was not occupied at the time of the fire, according to fire officials.
The SVFD responded to a call at 1:20 p.m. and a working fire was already in progress upon the arrival of the first truck.
A second alarm was activated at 1:25 p.m. and several departments responded including the Hampton, Canterbury, North Windham, South Windham, Windham Center, Mortlake (Brooklyn), Willimantic,
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©2019 The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.)