A late afternoon fire on December 20, 2002, severely damaged a 3 story wood frame building housing a business and multiple apartments in Putney Vermont. Putney firefighters were called at 3:10 PM to the Offerings jewelry store on Westminster West Rd after employees smelled smoke, opened a door leading to 2nd floor apartments, and saw flames.
First arriving units reported heavy smoke showing on arrival, and immediately requested mutual aid from adjoining towns. Shortly thereafter fire erupted through the roof of the building, with flames soaring nearly 30 feet into the afternoon sky.
Putney fire chief Tom Goddard reported that, upon arrival, the second floor was heavily engulfed in fire.
"Very aggressive firefighting on the part of our firefighters and the mutual aid companies kept the fire from spreading to the connected buildings." The store was directly connected to the Putney General Store, with a compromised firewall seperating the upper floors.
Firefighters mounted an interior attack, later utilizing a ladder pipe on Putney
