BERNARDSTON — A structure fire at 32 Depot St. on Sunday evening burned down a barn and caused minor damage to the neighboring house on the property.
According to Fire Chief Peter Shedd, homeowner David Brown, a second resident and their two cats and two dogs were all unharmed.
The cause of the fire is still considered to be under investigation, Shedd said. However, he said Brown “openly admitted” to burning materials too close to the two-story barn and house after he called in the fire at around 5 p.m.
Shedd said Brown had been illegally burning construction debris following home renovations. Firefighters got the fire under control in just over an hour, but remained on scene until approximately 9 p.m.
“The attached barn or garage was pretty much destroyed,” Shedd said.
Shedd said the homeowners do not have insurance. He said the house and barn date back to the early 1800s.
“The exterior corner of the house was on fire and had little damage,” Shedd noted. “There was no damage to the house really, structural wise or from interior smoke.”
The damage to the house was minimal enough that the homeowners stayed there Sunday night, Shedd said.
Though the firefighters were battling winds, he said they were able to keep the fire under control and it did not spread to other properties.
“It was in a heavily populated area of town with houses close together,” he said.
The Bernardston Fire Department received assistance from firefighters in Greenfield, Northfield and Turners Falls. Members of the Guilford (Vt.) Fire Department covered the Bernardston Fire Station while the other crews were on scene.
Shedd also said the department “had some issues” with the hydrant system while battling the fire. Firefighters had to lay out longer hoses to use other hydrants, which “stirred up the whole system.”
“I received some complaints about discolored water in town today,” Shedd said on Monday.
The Bernardston Fire Department also responded to a brush fire at 17 Fox Hill Road earlier in the weekend, which resulted in 2 acres of land being burnt in just over an hour.
“That came from a permitted brush fire,” Shedd said. “It was windy that day, and a spark must have flown up onto the hill … and off she went.”
Bernardston received mutual aid from Northfield and Greenfield for that call.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.