BRATTLEBORO — An exploding kerosene heater is to blame for an apartment fire at a four-unit apartment building at 27 Brattle St., on Feb. 6.
According to a news release from Brattleboro Fire Chief Michael Bucossi, personnel from both the police and fire departments responded to an emergency call at 5:27 p.m. Upon arrival, smoke was seen coming out of a second-floor apartment.
The Fire Department quickly put out the fire in the apartment, which Bucossi said sustained major heat and smoke damage.
Two occupants of the residence, who were not identified by authorities, were taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and treated for minor injuries. Bucossi said one was treated for smoke inhalation, the other had minor burns.
The other five people living in the building got out safely, Bucossi said. He credited the building's smoke detectors with providing an early warning to the building's occupants.
According to the American Red Cross, two adults and five children were provided with emergency lodging after the fire.
A joint investigation into a cause of the fire by Brattleboro Police and the fire department determined that it was not of suspicious origin. Bucossi said the probable cause of the fire was likely due to the wrong type of fuel being accidentally put into the heater, causing the explosion.
While the fire was not of suspicious origin, Brattleboro Police Chief Michael Fitzgerald wrote in an email on Monday that “an investigation for reckless endangerment is on-going.”
Bucossi said that the Brattleboro Fire Department would like to remind everyone to make sure that their residences have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and to exercise extreme caution anytime you are using portable heaters of any type.
Any fuel-burning heaters should be properly vented, he said, adding that if people have questions, they should call the fire department at 802-254-4831.