St. Johnsbury Barracks / Fire investigation

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

CASE#: 26A4000685

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Detective Sgt. Christopher Blais

DFS INVESTIGATOR: Assistant State Fire Marshal Shawn Goodell                         

STATION: Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit                 

CONTACT#: 802-234-9933

DATE/TIME: about 1:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

INCIDENT LOCATION: 2937 Goshen Rd., Bradford

VICTIM: Mark Hewes

AGE: 65

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Bradford, VT

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, the Bradford Fire Department and Upper Valley Ambulance were dispatched to a fire scene on Goshen Road in Bradford. The fire department located 65-year-old Mark Hewes in a camper on the property with burns to his arms, ears, neck and face. Hewes was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he was listed in critical condition. He was later taken by helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Bradford Fire contacted the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit to investigate the fire. Preliminary information indicates this was an accidental fire related to a portable heater. The fire is not considered suspicious. 

Anyone with information regarding the fire is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Christopher Blais at the Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933 or by contacting the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).

The Vermont Division of Fire Safety would like to remind Vermonters that space heaters should be at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and should not be left unattended.

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