HARTLAND — A home was destroyed and six dogs died in a fire fought by five fire departments on Saturday evening, according to the fire chief.
The 2½-story wood frame house at 17 Independent Drive, a private drive near Quechee Road, was fully involved by the time firefighters arrived on scene shortly before 5 p.m., Hartland Fire Chief John Sanders said.
Nobody was home at the time of the fire, which was called in by a neighbor, and no injuries were reported, Sanders said.
The Red Cross is assisting the husband and wife who lived there, he said. Assessing records list the homeowners as Stephen and Marlene Murray.
Sanders said the roof collapsed early on and the home has been deemed a total loss. Records indicate it was built in 1994 and the property was most recently assessed at $209,000.
A steep driveway and temperatures in the teens complicated the effort, which was joined by the Windsor, West Windsor, Woodstock and Hartford fire departments.
Officials closed Quechee Road and the fire was called under control by 9 p.m., although it continued to smolder Sunday.
“The guys did a great job. We’re just sad about the dogs,” Sanders said on Sunday, his voice catching. “It’s a bad time of year for this.”
The dogs included three German shepherds and three hounds whom the couple had rescued over the years, he said.
Vermont State Police investigated but could not determine a cause, he said.