Wednesday, 20 August 2025, at 7:44 PM – The Vergennes Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched for a medical assist after dispatchers at the Shelburne Communications Center received a call requesting medical attention but also heard smoke alarms sounding in the background. Recognizing the potential fire risk, dispatchers sent both VFD and the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad (VARS) to the scene.

Car 1 (C1) arrived first, finding no visible fire or smoke outside. Upon calling into the residence, the officer located the occupant conscious and alert on the floor inside a home filled with smoke.

Engine 1 arrived less than a minute later. Firefighters entered, carried the patient to safety, and transferred care to VARS, who provided treatment and transport. A second VFD crew discovered the source of the smoke: food left unattended on a stove.

In all, 19 VFD members responded, including 12 air-pack firefighters, arriving in under four minutes. Crews used positive pressure ventilation and air monitoring to ensure the residence was safe before clearing the scene.

Officials praised the efficient teamwork between dispatchers, VFD, and VARS, which ensured both the patient’s safety and the quick resolution of the smoke condition.