South Royalton
As they surveyed the smoldering wreckage, homeowners Bruce and Debra English said they were thankful their house was still standing.
“It happens,” Bruce English said. “You can be safe, but it happens. At least we have a house; a lot of people don’t.”
English said the couple would “take a few days to figure everything out, and then we will move on.”
The fire was called in around 9 p.m. on Thursday, and firefighters from Barnard, Tunbridge, Sharon and Bethel responded to the scene. The fire brought down the entire structure, claiming two vehicles — a pickup truck and a car — that were parked inside. English said he also lost new maple sugaring equipment, as well as tools that he uses for his work, including some vinyl siding.
The Englishes, who were home when the fire ignited, said they heard loud noises, looked outside and saw their garage was on fire. By that point, they said, it was too late to do anything about it.
Debra English said the heat from the flames was so strong, it could be felt inside the kitchen of the couple’s home.