ESSEX JUNCTION, VT — August 10 — A smoke odor reported at 197 Pearl Street prompted a four-alarm fire response involving fire and emergency medical services agencies from across the region. The Essex Junction Fire Department was the first on the scene, with Ladder 3 and Car 9 initially deployed along with support from the Town of Essex Fire Department.

Firefighters initially did not spot any visible fire from the front of the apartment building.

Ladder 3 later detected smoke near the B/C corner. Firefighters reached the fourth floor and used Ladder 3 to access the roof, where they found fire near an HVAC unit. Additional crews then discovered the fire spreading into the hidden roof system between the ceiling and roof deck.

Firefighters cut into parts of the roof while those below worked through multiple layers of construction and over 20 inches of blown-in insulation.

Five apartments were impacted. Two firefighters were checked for minor injuries and were cleared to return to duty, with no residents reported injured.

The mutual-aid resources involved included the Town of Essex Fire Department, Essex Rescue, Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue, Williston Fire Department, Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, Winooski Fire Department, Burlington Fire Department, Underhill-Jericho Fire Department, Colchester Fire Department, Hinesburg Fire Department, and Milton Fire Department.

The response included engines, ladder and tower companies, ambulances, command vehicles, and additional personnel.