WEYBRIDGE — A Wednesday, May 16, blaze tore through a garage at 310 Pine Ridge Lane in Weybridge, though local firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading much to a connected two-story home.
Weybridge Fire Chief Bill Sinks said it was at around 4:30 p.m. that his department was toned out to the home, a five-bedroom reproduction colonial owned by Peiter and Betty Schiller — who were thankfully not in their abode at the time of the blaze.
Sinks said the two-vehicle garage was fully involved when firefighters arrived, and the blaze was spreading to an L-shaped connector linking the garage and the home. Sinks quickly called for mutual aid from the following fire departments: Middlebury, New Haven, Addison and Bristol. Bristol firefighters provided key coverage at the Middlebury station to ensure the county’s shire town would have ongoing protection while its force was in Weybridge.
Fortunately, the wind that day blew the fire away from the direction of the home, which helped firefighters in their efforts.
Sinks gave major kudos to the firefighters who responded, as well as a civilian who pitched in during the early stages of the blaze: Former Salisbury firefighter Chris Bagley — now a Weybridge resident — was in the area and helped direct a fire hose at the scene until more help arrived at the scene.
“He really jumped in,” said Sinks, who estimated a combined total of around 50 firefighters ultimately responded to the call.
Middlebury Regional EMS stood by to ensure firefighters received medical care if they needed it. One firefighter reported being a little light-headed and short of breath, but all emerged from the incident in good shape, according to Sinks.
Firefighters remained at the scene until around 10 p.m., Sinks said.
Officials are still probing the cause of the blaze, though Sinks doesn’t believe it was arson. There was no estimate for the cost of the loss as of press time.
He called the garage and L-shaped connector total losses.
Sinks expressed gratitude to all the firefighters who helped out.
“They’re volunteers and put their lives on the line, with all that time in training,” he said.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].