CREWS FROM SEVEN local fire departments worked to put out a house fire on Bristol’s East Street on Wednesday evening. The fire left one man dead, who officials later identified as Steven C. Leopold, 78.

Editor’s note: This story was updated after it was originally posted.

BRISTOL — A local man was killed in a house fire on Bristol’s East Street on Wednesday evening. Officials late on Thursday identified the victim as Steven C. Leopold, 78.

Crews from seven local fire departments helped put out the house fire, which halted traffic on Route 116 in the area of 58 East St. for a time while firefighters battled the blaze.

According to a Vermont State Police press release, the Bristol Fire Department received a 911 call for a residential structure fire on East Street at around 7:41 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Bristol police arrived first at the scene, followed soon after by Bristol firefighters.

They found fire fully involved at the yellow clapboard home with green trim, and were told that a man was still inside.

“Due to the intensity of the fire, efforts to locate and remove the man were unsuccessful,” officials stated in the release.

Bristol Fire Chief Brett LaRose said his crew search the building for the reported man inside until it became unsafe to do so.

After the fire was brought under control, first responders located Leopold’s remains inside the residence, and officials noted his body was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy.

Bristol firefighters were assisted by crews from the Monkton, Lincoln, Starksboro, New Haven, Middlebury and Vergennes fire departments, as well as the Bristol Rescue Squad.

Chief LaRose noted the structure was large, old and had a lot of things inside, making it difficult for firefighters to move from one point to another.

“We get here, we’re in an offensive mode meaning we want to get inside and make an aggressive fire attack, but it was around 8:45 (p.m.) when we transitioned into a defensive fire attack, which means all firefighters were pulled out (from the structure) because the building had been become unsafe,” LaRose told the Independent on Thursday morning.

THIS HOME AT 58 East St. in Bristol was made uninhabitable by a fire on the evening of Jan. 15. It took crews from seven fire departments to extinguish the blaze, the origin of which has not yet been determined. Steven Leopold died in the fire.
Photo courtesy of Ken Gilbert/92.1 WVTK-FM

At that point, firefighters began fighting the fire from outside the structure. LaRose said the fire was under control around 11 p.m.

“It was because of the volume of materials inside it kept rekindling,” he said on Thursday. “We left the scene around 2 a.m. this morning, and 45 minutes later we came back; there was a little flare up.”

According to LaRose, damage to the structure was extensive.

“I’m not going to say it’s a total loss, that’s open to interpretation from the insurance company,” he said. “The home is uninhabitable.”

The Bristol Fire Department was back at the scene on Thursday morning to provide support as the Department of Public Safety Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit wrapped up its work.

The investigation unit was contacted to help the Bristol fire and police departments determine the origin and cause of the fire. The Bristol Police Department is leading investigation into Leopold’s death.

The investigation remains active but authorities said the fire and death do not appear to be suspicious.

“The Division of Fire Safety would like to remind people the importance of having an escape plan and two ways out of your home,” the press release states.

Anyone with information that could be relevant to the case is asked to contact Detective Sgt. James Wright at the Vermont State Police, New Haven barracks, at 802-388-4919 or Bristol Police Chief Bruce Nason at 802-453-2533.

Individuals can also leave an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit or contact the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).