Woodstock Fire Chief L.D. Sutherland, Jr. calls the structure fire on Cox District Road Saturday “a total burn”. He said in an interview with Woodstock Early Bird today, “I’ve never seen anything like that.” Due to the home being fully engulfed it was all responding fire departments could do to keep the fire contained and not spread into a wildfire.
Sutherland explains that a neighbor on Deer Ridge Way called in the fire hence the original report of the home burning there. However, the structure, owned by Walter Klein, of Arizona, is actually on Cox District Road.
Klein has been renting the house to local mason Jesse Filiaut and his family which include a three-year-old son. The family was not home at the time, according to Sutherland. The Fire Chief says they had stepped out to see and enjoy the annual spring Bridgewater Raft race and so were not injured. Fire and emergency personnel were able to fight the blaze safely without injuries either.
Unfortunately — and very sadly — Sutherland confirmes reports that the two Filiaut family dogs perished in the blaze.
Sutherland says the owner has been informed of the total loss of the residence and that he — the Fire Chief — suspects it may have started and gotten out of hand due to some faulty installation issues in the wood stove/fireplace. The family had had a fire going in the stove earlier in the day due to the colder weather.
We are told that the Vermont Red Cross will be coordinating any assistance and/or donations to the family and we will post that information once we get it. WEB
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 