COLCHESTER — On December 25, at approximately 3:45 a.m., a residence on Malletts Bay Club Road became the scene of a devastating structure fire with reports of a potential occupant trapped inside.
The Colchester Police Department, responding to the 911 call, arrived to find a two-story family home consumed by heavy smoke and flames.
The Colchester Fire Department, along with assistance from neighboring fire crews, battled the blaze that had fully engulfed the home.
Efforts to extinguish the fire continued into the day and, after the flames were subdued, emergency personnel made a grim discovery.
Shortly after noon, a body was located among the remains of the heavily damaged building.
The identity of the deceased, as well as the cause and manner of death, will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Authorities, suspecting no foul play at this point in the investigation, are working to ascertain the cause of the fire.
The Vermont State Police Fire Investigation Unit and the Division of Fire Safety have been enlisted to assist in this effort.
Reports also indicate that a dog may have perished in the incident.
The Colchester Police received support from multiple agencies, including the Colchester Fire Department, Colchester Rescue, Saint Michael’s Fire Department, Burlington Fire Department, Winooski Fire Department, Essex Fire Department, VTANG Fire Department, Vermont Gas, Green Mountain Power, Water District 2, and All Seasons Excavating.