By VDC staff

Vermont State Police have identified the two people who died in a house fire last week in Chelsea as Max Quayle, 57, and Karen Snyder, 71, both residents of the home.

The fire was reported at about 3:15 AM on June 17 at a single-family residence at 5 North Common. Firefighters from Chelsea, Tunbridge and other area departments battled the blaze for approximately 3½ hours before extinguishing it. The house was declared a total loss.

During a search of the structure, investigators discovered the remains of two people. State police said Quayle and Snyder have now been identified as the victims. The deaths remain under investigation by the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, while the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit continues to investigate the fire’s origin and cause. No additional details have been released.

Three-alarm fire in Post Mills – in a separate incident, firefighters from numerous Vermont and New Hampshire departments responded Tuesday afternoon to a third-alarm structure fire at 7386 Route 113 in Post Mills.

According to the Thetford Fire Department, all occupants and a dog safely escaped the blaze. The homeowner, who was working in an attached barn when the fire started, called 911 and reported hearing at least one explosion from inside the building.

When firefighters arrived, they found the barn fully engulfed, with flames extending into the attached home. The fire also sparked a small brush fire and threatened several nearby residences.

“The barn contained numerous fuel sources and several pieces of equipment, contributing to the fire’s rapid growth and intensity,” Thetford Fire Chief Chad Whitcomb said in a news release.

Route 113 was closed for about three hours while emergency crews battled the fire. Officials said the blaze was accidental in nature.

More than a dozen fire departments from both Vermont and New Hampshire responded, along with ambulance, rehabilitation and support teams.