TROY — Authorities say a snowmobile was the cause of a fire that destroyed a covered bridge in Troy this morning.
At around 11:00 a.m. authorities were alerted to a snowmobile fire on the covered bridge on Veilleux Road.
Investigators say a group of snowmobilers had been traveling across the bridge when one of the sleds broke down.
The operator noticed there was fire coming from the right side of the snowmobile and attempted to put out the fire by throwing snow on it.
The fire continued to grow out of control until it eventually caught the wood frame of the bridge on fire as well.
The bridge burned to the point it collapsed into the Missisquoi River.
The bridge, which was built in 1910, will have to be removed by heavy equipment and a temporary bridge set in place before the road can reopen.
