Structure Fire on Moose River Drive in St. Johnsbury

This is a developing story. Details are preliminary and subject to change as more information becomes available.

At approximately 11:15 AM on Sunday, July 26, 2026, St. Johnsbury Fire and Calex Ambulance were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 231 Moose River Drive in St. Johnsbury. First arriving units reported a two-and-a-half-story building with smoke showing and a working fire. Multiple callers reported seeing a large plume of black smoke, with some sightings from as far away as Dog Mountain and from I-93.

According to first responders, all occupants were reportedly out of the building and accounted for. Fire crews were actively engaged in firefighting operations. Mutual aid was requested from Waterford Fire, Danville Fire, and Lyndonville Fire, with Waterford engine, Danville engine, and Lyndonville ladder responding for station coverage. At 11:22 AM, command was established, and crews reported heavy flame on the Charlie side of the structure with a hose line stretched. A code 3 emergency response was initiated.

At 11:25 AM, communications indicated crews were entering the building, and initial efforts to extinguish the fire were underway. By 11:28 AM, crews had cleared the first floor and were making entry to the second floor, with fireground command advising units to identify themselves as they advanced. At 11:27 AM, a mutual-aid fire alarm was broadcast for Waterford, Danville, and Lyndonville fire departments to provide station coverage in St. Johnsbury.

At 11:29 AM, fire crews reported clearing the first floor and making entry to the second floor. At 11:30 AM, Lyndonville Ladder 35 was dispatched to the scene to assist. At 11:34 AM, command was transferred to St. Johnsbury Command 5 as operations continued.

At 11:36 AM, Lyndonville engine was responding to the scene, and Littleton Fire Department units were approaching the scene and asked where to stage. Danville Engine 3 responded to provide station coverage. Fire command continued to request updates from command units. At 11:39 AM, Danville Engine 3 reported off at station. At 11:40 AM, operations continued with multiple units on scene.

At 12:04 PM, Waterford Engine 1 and Lyndonville Ladder 35 were cleared to return. East Burke Fire Department responded for station coverage. At 12:08 PM, a personnel accountability report was conducted at the command post.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

NEK News will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Photo: Renée Johnson from Stockton Springs, ME, USA (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.