BRATTLEBORO — The investigation into the cause of an apartment house fire at 214 Elliot St. that left 17 people homeless on Oct. 16 is now closed, according to Brattleboro Fire Chief Michael Bucossi.
In a news release on Tuesday, Bucossi said Brattleboro Fire Department investigators met with the Vermont State Police Fire Investigation Unit to review information gathered after a three-alarm fire destroyed the three-story structure.
Bucossi said that no new information about the cause of the fire has come to light, despite multiple interviews and scene examinations.
Investigators say the fire started on the third floor near one of the apartments. Bucossi said “there is no indication of criminal activity or that the fire is suspicious. Due to the inability to eliminate all possible sources, investigators are listing the cause of the fire to be undetermined.”
The owner of the building, Robert Remy-Powers, has taken out a permit of demolition from the Brattleboro Zoning Administrator's office. Under town regulations, he has up to one year to tear down the structure.
A fund has been set up at the TD Bank branch on Main Street to aid those left homeless by the fire. Two local used clothing stores - Love It Twice on Black Mountain Road and Whippersnappers on Putney Road - have collected money and clothing for families over the past three weeks.
And the newly opened The Root Social Justice Center at 28 Williams St., Suite 1, is also accepting donations.