Woodstove ashes left outside a camp are believed to have started a forest fire in the Windsor County town of Barnard.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, the Barnard Fire Department was dispatched to a reported forest fire on Morgan Hill Road in Barnard. When fire crews arrived, they discovered a large forest fire, along with two camps that had been destroyed by the fire. Mutual aid was requested from the surrounding communities.

As part of the Barnard Fire Chief’s assessment of the scene he contacted the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and requested assistance in determining the origin and cause of the fire event.

The origin of the fire was determined to be on the exterior of the building. The cause is believed to be related to the improper disposal of ashes from a wood stove. The fire spread to the surrounding woods and [as of Sunday night] is currently being fought by the Barnard Fire Department along with mutual aid from the surrounding communities.

Richard Keating, 66, the camp owner, suffered non-life-threatening injuries associated with this fire. The camp and its contents were destroyed. One other camp also was destroyed by the fire.

The public should be aware that fire suppression efforts will be ongoing, and smoke may be visible for several days. Dry and windy conditions have added to the difficulty in fire suppression efforts.

Anyone with information about this fire or who may have been in the area of the fire during the early morning hours of October 27 is asked to contact the State Police at 802-878-7111.

People with information may also contact the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program at 800-32-ARSON. The Arson Tip Award Program is a separate entity from the Department of Public Safety, and through funding from insurance companies offers a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Fatal head-on crash on Rte. 7 – Jeremy Eaton, 50 of Tinmouth, died shortly after a two-vehicle crash on Rte. 7 near Channing Lane in Pittsford Friday, October 25 at about 5 PM, state troopers say.

On arrival, troopers located the vehicles at a position of uncontrolled rest off the roadway.

The 2008 Cadillac driven by Eaton was traveling northbound on US Route 7 near the intersection of Channing Ln. when it crossed the solid double yellow line and entered into the southbound lane where it crashed into a 2024 Volvo driven by Arieon Armstrong, 27, of Baton Rouge LA.

Despite the best efforts of all first responders, Eaton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. Troopers were assisted on scene by Regional Ambulance Service, Pittsford Fire Department and Pittsford Police Department.

16-year-old severely injured in crash on wet, icy roads – At 7 PM Sunday October 27, state troopers learned of a single-car crash at 2173 Peacham Road, Danville. The juvenile operator (age 16) was traveling north on Peacham Road when he failed to maintain his lane of travel and drove off road, striking a nearby tree. 

He sustained severe injuries as a result of the crash and was brought to Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital before being transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for further medical treatment. The juvenile’s vehicle was totaled.

Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at 802-229-9191.

Stolen Subie, pickup truck – Police report two stolen vehicle incidents this weekend. 

At 7 AM on Sunday October 27, at about 7 AM, Vermont State Police received a report that a grey 2013 Subaru Outback with New Hampshire plates was stolen from a Rte. 15, Jericho home overnight. 

This vehicle was also involved in an incident in the City of Burlington at approximately 1:30 AM hours and was last seen at the McDonalds located on Williston Road in South Burlington at about 4:15 AM hours. Anyone who sees this vehicle or has any information about its theft is asked to contact the Vermont State Police-Williston Barracks at 802-878-7111.

On Saturday, Octobe 26 state police received a report of a 2018 Toyota Tundra pickup truck (see photo of actual truck) stolen from Rodrigue Beland in a parking lot at 5351 Main St., Waitsfield.  It is suspected the vehicle was loaded onto a flatbed truck between 9 PM and midnight the previous evening.