BARTON –– A fatal fire in a multi-family apartment building at 46 High Street in Barton, is currently under investigation. The incident occurred today with the Orleans Fire Department dispatched to the scene at approximately 9:34 a.m.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke emanating from a first-floor window. The fire was successfully extinguished and contained to a single room in a downstairs apartment.
During the assessment, Orleans Fire Chief EJ Rowell discovered that a male occupant had been found deceased inside the structure.
The Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, along with a detective from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, responded to assist in determining the fire’s origin and cause.
The deceased individual’s remains have been sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death and to confirm the victim’s identity.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was accidental, with no immediate indications of criminal activity. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
