A Vergennes firetruck stages to fight a fire on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh on Monday afternoon.
Photo courtesy of Dave DiBiase

FERRISBURGH — Firefighters closed Route 7 in North Ferrisburgh Monday afternoon after they responded to a truck fire there. The fire apparently occurred at the same place where a massive truck fire took place last summer.

Vergennes Fire Chief Dave DiBiase and Ferrisburgh resident Jess James reported the fire a little before 3 p.m. at 5089 Route 7, which about halfway between Greenbush Road on the south and Starry Night Café on the north.

Northbound Route 7 traffic is being diverted onto Greenbush. Southbound traffic was being diverted at Dakin Road. Around 5 a.m. on  Tuesday state officials announced that Route 7 was fully open.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation reported that a tractor-trailer transporting compressed gas caught fire for unknown reasons and exploded, which caused the fire to spread to a small brown building on the west side of Route 7.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 46-year-old Mark E. Laflam of Saint Albans, sustained injuries and was transported from the scene, VTrans reported.

In addition to Ferrisburgh FD, fire departments from multiple towns responded including from Vergennes, Bristol, Monkton, Addison Shelburne and Hinesburg. Ambulances were seen headed to the scene as well. VTrans said that other agencies responding included the Department of Motor Vehicles Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Vermont State and Vergennes police, Bristol EMS and Green Mountain Power.

State police announced that Route 7 between Greenbush and Dakin roads had one open lane as of 7:30 p.m.

This story will be updated as more details become available.

On June 1, 2023, a tank truck hauling flammable fuels exploded in the same area of Route 7. A passing car alerted the truck’s driver that it was throwing sparks. The driver pulled over and ran away before the tanker exploded.

Firefighters spray water on the burning truck off Route 7 in North Ferrisburgh on Monday afternoon.
Photos courtesy of Dave DiBiase