Family has to abandon house after weekend fire
Toolbox
By Gordon Dritschilo STAFF WRITER - Published: December 3, 2009
CASTLETON — A basement fire has put a Castleton family of four out of their home.
Castleton volunteer firefighters said Tim and Julie Thompson's home on South Woodard Way was salvageable but would need about $30,000 in work after an electrical fire Saturday.
"The fire itself was contained to the basement area," Chief Heath Goyette said. "They had some heat and smoke damage upstairs. … It burnt out some of the plumbing and electric in the basement."
Assistant Chief Joe Peryer said the Thompons got out safely with their two children and their guinea pig and have been staying with friends.
Peryer said the call came in at about 4:30 p.m.
"It started next to an electric outlet," Peryer said. "My understanding is he was downstairs doing some woodworking. He went upstairs a little bit, opened the door to go back down and that's when he noticed the fire."
Peryer said the Thompsons' fire alarm did activate.
Peryer said the fire was accidental, and fumes from paint thinner near the outlet may have contributed.
A total of about 25 firefighters from Castleton, Poultney and Fair Haven were on the scene, Peryer said, while a crew from Hubbardton stood by at the Castleton station.
"The first truck got there pretty early and put a pretty aggressive stop on it," Goyette said.
Peryer said the crews were back at the station shortly after 6 p.m.
"We had all the fire out in roughly 15 minutes," he said. "We spent a lot of time sifting through the debris in the basement."
Peryer said the Thompsons were insured.
"It's a beautiful house," he said. "It's saveable and in good condition."
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
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