A fast-moving, early morning fire gutted a home at 27 Edwards Village Loop on Dec. 1.
No one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, according to a news release from the Vermont State Police Fire Investigation Unit.
The building is a total loss, according to Vermont Assistant Fire Marshall Joshua Maxham, and damage is estimated to be around $350,000.
West Dover firefighters were first to respond to the fire, after the department received an automatic alarm activation at 4:05 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire coming out the first floor front windows.
According to Maxham, the home, owned by Jerome and Donna Simon of Stamford, Conn., had an open floor plan, so fire spread quickly and made access inside the building difficult.
The West Dover Fire Department immediately requested a second alarm and an aggressive exterior attack was conducted until more mutual aid from surrounding towns arrived.
Assisting West Dover were firefighters from East Dover, Wilmington, Marlboro, Whitingham, Halifax, NewBrook, Readsboro, Jamaica, Stratton, Williamsville, and Deerfield Valley Rescue.
Maxham said West Dover Fire Chief Richard Werner requested assistance from state police to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. After a brief investigation, Maxham said the cause of the fire “is listed as undetermined, but not considered suspicious at this time.”