WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Tuesday fire displaced about 10 residents of a six-unit apartment building on Barnes Avenue.
Some pets, including two dogs and an unknown number of reptiles, perished in the blaze at 40 Barnes Ave., across Route 5 from White River School.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury, but all the human residents, as well as a cat and several snakes were safe.
The three-alarm fire began in a second-floor apartment, Hartford Fire Chief Scott Cooney said. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Jennafer Worth, who has lived in a second-level unit of the house since 2023, lost her 2-year-old German shepherd-American bully mix, Luna, and her sister’s 3-year-old pitbull, Princess, along with many of her belongings.
“I still can’t really comprehend that I lost everything in my apartment,” Worth said as she watched her belongings fall onto the street as firefighters cleared away charred debris.
“Everything is replaceable except my dog,” Worth said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Terry Chausse, who lives next door to the apartment building, said she was driving home from work and saw a pillar of black smoke rising from her neighborhood. When she arrived at her house, she saw flames burst through the second-floor window of one of the units and send an air conditioner unit onto the ground, she said.
She called 911 at 10:56 a.m., and a fire truck was on scene a few minutes later, Chausse said.
Chausse said she joined an occupant of one of the downstairs apartments as he alerted neighbors before the fire department arrived.
Worried the fire would spread, she attempted to pull a garden hose from a neighboring property to spray between the burning home and her own.
Chausse then withdrew from the fire as it grew, coming out of windows and the roof at multiple points. “We really thought we were in danger,” she said.
The fire department was able to put out the fire, but it reignited twice more, Chausse said.
“If they hadn’t come and responded when they did, and if it hadn’t been raining, this would have been a lot worse,” Chausse said.
The fire was declared under control at 1:13 p.m., Cooney said. In addition to Hartford, fire departments from Lebanon, Hanover, Hartland, Plainfield, Pomfret, Woodstock, Meriden, Windsor and Kimball Union Academy responded. Temporary emergency medical coverage was provided by Lebanon’s fire department.
Neighbors were quick to provide support.
White River Junction resident Linda Nordman offered food and supplies to people through the Red Cross. The organization also provided temporary lodging at the Comfort Inn to those displaced.
Matt Bradley, who runs the neighboring All-State Towing, opened his garage doors for a dry place to put snack and water tables. He also bought pizza for firefighters and tenants.
Professionals from Potter’s Angels Rescue, a foster-based animal rescue, stopped by and offered supplies for pets displaced by the fire.
Mike Davidson owns the property, which has an assessed value of $671,000, according to town property records. It is managed by Davidson’s company Ledgeworks, according to an email from Tim Sidore, the company’s chief of operations.
The company is assisting displaced tenants find temporary housing at the company’s other properties.
“On behalf of Mike, myself and our team, we greatly appreciate the quick response and heroism of the Hartford Fire Department and all first responders to bring this fire under control and ensure the safety of our residents,” Sidore wrote.
CORRECTION: The apartment building that burned on Tuesday is located at 40 Barnes Ave. and owned by Lebanon-based 21 Agua Street LLC. A previous version of this story included an incorrect address, owner and description for the property.