By Chris Garofolo
The Brattleboro Reformer
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Fire crews made quick work of a stove fire on Bonnyvale Road shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday.
Multiple vehicles from the Brattleboro Fire Department responded to the blaze at 1:08 p.m., finding a barn-like storage structure emitting heavy amounts of smoke.
“It’s an office for the homeowner here at 311 Bonnyvale Road. At this point, it doesn’t look too severe,” said Brattleboro Fire Chief Michael Bucossi. “It appears to have started around the wood stove, spread up that area up some partitions to the second floor of the barn.”
Upon arriving at the scene, fire crews found smoke creeping out of a second-floor window. Brattleboro had extended a ladder over the smoking portion of the structure, but retracted it around the time crews contained the fire.
Crews had the minor fire under control within the hour. There were no reported injuries and the extent of the damage is relatively minor.
The main residence, adjacent to the workspace, was not damaged by the fire.
Fire officials warn residents that wood-burning stoves are auxiliary home heating devices that demand care and attention, especially during the heavy-use winter months.
The Vermont Division of Fire Safety reminds users to inspect the chimney connections at the beginning of each heating season and clean when necessary.
“We just encourage and urge everyone that uses an auxiliary heating supply to make sure your chimneys are good and clean. Clean them on a regular basis and keep a good clearance around the unit so we have no combustibles up against the stove or the stove pipes,” Bucossi said.
Fire crews from Guilford, Vernon, Chesterfield and Keene, N.H., assisted on the scene.
Teams from Dummerston, Putney and Hinsdale, N.H., covered the Brattleboro stations during the fire.
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