Vermont Fire Caused by Wood Ash Left in Paper Bag

Fire officials say ashes left in a paper bag sparked a fire that damaged a Burlington home.

A construction worker spotted the flames coming from the back porch of the home on Caroline Street Tuesday morning and knocked on the door to wake the family, who escaped uninjured.

The home was being rented by University of Vermont men’s basketball coach John Becker and his family.

Burlington Fire Marshal Terry Francis told the Burlington Free Press that the fire caused about $55,000 in damage to the $334,500-home.

He says the ashes from a fireplace were placed on a wooden step of the porch the night before. Francis advises people to dispose of ashes in metal containers with lids and to keep them away from combustible materials.