BRADFORD, Vt. — A heat lamp being used in an outbuilding to keep chickens warm is likely the cause of a three-alarm fire that destroyed a barn and burned through 17 acres, fire officials said Wednesday.
Fire crews responded Tuesday afternoon to a report of a grass fire on Erwin Road in Bradford and found a 100-by-40-foot barn “fully involved” in flames. At least three other houses were also in danger, in part because of winds that were gusting up to 25 mph, according to Bradford Fire Chief Ryan Terrill.
The fire was raised to a third alarm, and more than 20 fire departments assisted with putting out the fire or with station coverage. All told, about 17 acres of grass and woodland were affected by the fire.