• Barre building fire cause ruled suspect; $5,000 reward offered for information

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Smoke pours from the apartment building early Saturday morning at 127 James St., Barre. The Colonial structure reportedly has been empty for several years. T&G Staff/Christine Peterson
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  • SLIDESHOW: Barre fire
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  By Telegram & Gazette Staff

  
  Posted May. 14, 2016 at 6:41 AM
  Updated May 14, 2016 at 11:12 PM
  
  
  

  BARRE — Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information on how a fire started at an abandoned apartment building at 127 James St.

  The building had been vacant about seven years, and power or other utilities were not feeding into the wood-frame structure, according to Fire Chief Joseph A. Rogowski.

  "It is a suspicious fire," Chief Rogowski said.

  Firefighters were called to James Street at 5:09 a.m. Saturday and later summoned help from surrounding communities. After a neighbor suggested homeless people might be in the building, firefighters entered the building, but found no one, Chief Rogowski said.

  A Barre firefighter complained of chest pains at one point, but was treated at the scene by emergency responders and suffered no injuries, Chief Rogowski said.

  Cortland A. Gariepy is listed in town and county records as owner of the building.

  Barre police and firefighters and the state fire marshal's office are investigating the blaze. Anyone with information may call the state fire marshal's arson hot line at 800-682-9229.