Big Vermont Fire Thought Electrical; Cleanup Under Way

Vermont fire investigators say the blaze that heavily damaged an historic building in downtown Brattleboro was most likely started by an electrical malfunction.

But officials aren’t sure where the fire started in the Brooks House on Sunday night.

Brattleboro Fire Chief Michael Bucossi tells the Brattleboro Reformer between 125 and 150 firefighters from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts helped fight the blaze, which wasn’t declared under control until Monday morning. There were no injuries.

Downtown businesses are expected to be allowed to reopen Tuesday, while officials try to decide what to do with the building.

The damage was most severe on the top two floors, but the lower floors received extensive smoke and water damage.