PUTNEY — Investigators have deemed an April 15 house fire at 47 Fred Houghton Road “suspicious” and the state police have set a reward for information that results in an arrest.
After the Putney Fire Department responded to the 12:17 p.m. fire, which caused approximately $65,000 in damage to the gambrel-roofed garage and the small apartment on the second level of the structure, Putney Fire Chief Tom Goddard gathered information about the fire and contacted the Vermont State Police to request an origin and cause investigation of the fire, according to state police.
Detectives from the State Police Fire Investigation Unit and detectives and troopers from the Rockingham and Brattleboro barracks responded immediately to the scene, according to a state police report.
Investigators deemed the fire “suspicious” and its cause “undetermined,” state police said.
No one was in the structure, and there were no injuries at the scene, state police said, adding that firefighters were able to extinguish the fire solely from the outside.
The Vermont State Police asks anyone with information about the fire to call the Arson Tip Line at 800-32-ARSON or the Vermont State Police at the Rockingham Barracks at 802-875-2112.
State police are offering up to a $5,000 reward for information resulting in an arrest.