Chief: Fire suspicious

The fire that destroyed the Putney General Store Sunday night appears to be suspicious, Putney Fire Chief Tom Goddard said.

[TNB]

If it is intenional, then they should send the jerk who did this away for a long time, perhaps life.He could have killed those people in the nearby apartments.....I would also suggest to the Historical Society that if, they rebuild, they shpould consider a fire alarm and fire suppression/sprinkler system. At the cost of about $.80 per sq. ft.it is a viable alternative to this awful destruction....

[Whit]

TNB, reports are that a sprinkler system was in the plans, but had not been installed yet because the funds weren't yet there, and the first priority had been getting the roof in place before winter. Also, reports say a sprinkler system was in place the first time the general store burned, credited for saving the original structural timbers - lost this time. From published reports, in the reconstruction what had been finished was the roof and a new electrical system. There was no heating system in place yet, and the interior was unfinished.

Your implication that there was a lapse in not having a sprinkler system, then, seems misplaced. One was in the original building, and planned for the reconstructed building. It just hadn't proceeded to that phase of the project yet. There may not have been any plumbing at all in the building yet. The priorities seem right. First you need a good shell. Then you replace the electrical system, since what was left of the original one could be a fire hazard. Next you rough in the interior - which wasn't done yet. Only then do you do the plumbing, including sprinklers.

Everything was being done right. Wouldn't you agree?

[TNB]

Whit,

Totally agree.

Thanks for the deatil and the insight.

[Lisa McCormick]

Video of the Putney General Store Fire
Sadly, I happened upon the scene just after 10:30 pm, driving home from a friend's house. I had video camera with me, and was able to capture much of the event.
This was not easy to witness, nor is it easy to watch - but I felt it was important to share. Perhaps it will somehow help us process this tremendous loss.
Here is the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[yogababy]

That is just one too many fires on that street. Someone has a serious beef with Putney. Did they ever say if the first store fire was arsonal? So sad!:( I hope they catch whoever did this.
Bad omen

[Joe]

yogababy wrote:

That is just one too many fires on that street. Someone has a serious beef with Putney. Did they ever say if the first store fire was arsonal? So sad!:( I hope they catch whoever did this.
Bad omen

probably some hippie angry about the town becoming too commercial or a store being there competing against their egg or milk sales from their phoney farm that is going broke.