SAINT ALBANS BARRACKS // FIRE INVESTIGATION
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
CASE#: 20A202765
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Det. Sgt. Matthew Hill
STATION: Saint Albans Barracks
CONTACT#: (802)524-5993
DATE/TIME: June 28, 2020 at 10:30 PM
INCIDENT LOCATION: Waugh Farm Road, Highgate, VT
NATURE: Fire investigation – Suspicious Circumstances
VICTIM: Nelson Dairies West LLC
AGE: Business
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Saint Albans, VT
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On Sunday, June 28, 2020, at approximately 10:30 PM the Highgate Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a barn fire in the area of 581 Waugh Farm Road in Highgate, VT. When the firefighters arrived on scene they discovered the barn was fully involved, as was another building just north of the barn. Despite the efforts of the Highgate Fire Department, which was assisted by the Swanton and St. Albans Town fire departments, both buildings were destroyed. As part of the Highgate Fire Department fire chief’s origin and cause examination he contacted the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit to aid in the examination.
During the fire chief’s examination, his fire crew discovered a second fire scene located approximately a quarter mile south of the original fire scene on Waugh Farm Road. The second fire scene involved two abandoned mobile homes that were destroyed by fire.
On Monday, June 29, 2020, investigators arrived at the fire scenes and began the origin and cause examination. The two buildings that were destroyed were not in current use by the farm company and were vacant of both machinery and animals. The barn had not been in use for an extended period of time and was not supplied with electrical power. The second building involved was located approximately 175 feet to the north of the barn and also was not in use and empty of material and supplies. Shortly before this fire was reported, several all-terrain vehicles were seen, and heard, leaving the area.
Investigators learned the fire involving the two mobile homes took place on June 27, 2020, sometime after 10:00PM. They also learned that a small, dark-color car was seen leaving the scene just before the fire was discovered.
The these two fire events are under investigation, and the circumstances are considered suspicious. Anyone with information about these fire events is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at (802)524-5992 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766). Tips may be submitted anonymously by texting keyword VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES) or by clicking this link:
https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/state.vt.us
Satellite image Google Earth
Satellite image Google Earth
Detective Sergeant Matthew Hill
Department of Public Safety
Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit
Vermont State Police, Troop A-West
2777 St George Road
Williston, VT 05495
Office 802-878-7111
