One person died following a structure fire Thursday evening at a multi-unit residential building on Peru Street, according to the Burlington Fire Department.
Firefighters were dispatched at about 5:11 p.m. on Jan. 22 to 87 Peru St. for a report of smoke in a building. Upon arrival, Battalion 1 observed smoke coming from the roof of a three-story, wood-frame apartment building. The call was quickly upgraded to a structure fire response, and additional resources were requested.
Crews initiated primary searches and advanced a hoseline to the third floor, where they encountered heavy smoke and high heat conditions. One occupant was located and assisted out of the building via the front stairwell. That individual was evaluated by emergency medical personnel and transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center.
A second occupant was found unconscious on the third floor. Firefighters removed the individual from the building, and the person was transported to UVMMC by UVM Rescue, accompanied by Burlington Fire Department paramedics. The individual was later pronounced deceased.
A second alarm was transmitted, bringing in off-duty firefighters and mutual aid departments. The fire was brought under control, and crews also rescued a dog and a cat from the building.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Burlington Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office, with assistance from the Vermont State Police and the Burlington Police Department.