Vermont Ski Condo Complex Fire Causes $2M in Damage

A fire at a three-story condominium complex at the Sugarbush Ski Resort has been extinguished, but police said it might have caused millions of dollars in damage.

Resident Maria Freeman, who was inside the complex, told WCAX-TV that her dog woke her family up around 1 a.m. Monday.

“Our unit was pretty much full of smoke,” Freeman said. “You know, you smell it and you think it’s the downdraft in the fireplace, but it was coming up behind our sofa, the smoke was, so we just said evacuate and started pounding on doors and got everybody out of the building.”

Police said the Warren Fire Department responded to a report of smoke just before 2 a.m. and the fire “progressed very quickly.”

Firefighters said their efforts were hindered by cold temperatures, which froze hose lines and the gear they were wearing. Police reported that lack of water also was a problem.

Fire departments from Waterbury, Waitsfield, Moretown, Stowe and Berlin helped.

Officials said 36 units sustained “significant damage” but everyone was able to escape safely without reports of any injuries. It’s unclear how many units there are at the resort.

Police were investigating the cause of the fire. The estimated damage to be about $2 million.

One crew of firefighters was still on the scene Monday evening to ensure the fire didn’t rekindle, the Warren Fire Department said.