Shrewsbury fire victim identified
By kathleen.phalentomaselli @rutlandherald.com
Staff Writer | April 07,2015
Staff Writer | April 07,2015
SHREWSBURY — The state medical examiner has identified the man who died Friday in a Shrewsbury fire as 71-year-old David B. Rice, Vermont State Police reported Monday.
The two-story property at 8539 Cold River Road, owned by Lavinia Seide and Rice, was engulfed in flames when Shrewsbury Fire Chief Russell Carrara arrived at the scene, which was about a mile from his home.
“I’m guessing it was on fire probably 25 or 30 minutes,” he said. “Embers were already falling down in my yard.”
Shrewsbury firefighters got the call at 3:47 p.m. Friday and were on the scene in six minutes, he said.
Carrara reported that Seide told him Rice was still in the home, and they tried repeatedly to enter. “The fire was too intense, we couldn’t get in,” he said. The body of the man was found in the basement because the upper floor was burnt out, he said. “This is a tough one for everyone, so much was destroyed.”
There were two cats in the home, neither of which has been found, he said.
Throughout the day Monday, the community posted online condolences to Seide about Rice, but his identity was not confirmed until late afternoon.
Carrara said he does not believe Rice was trapped by the fire, but perhaps the explosions, heard before firefighters arrived at the scene, were related to his death.
“As far as we can tell, we can’t see why he couldn’t get out,” he said. “The explosions that we heard were possibly why he did not get out, but until I hear from the state police investigators, we won’t know.”
The explosions might be related to the oil furnace, he said, pointing to several similar explosions in the area. “There was one in Ludlow. The boiler blew up.”
The W. E. Pierce Store at 2658 Northam Road in Shrewsbury is collecting cash donations to assist Seide, but Sally Deinzer, the store’s manager, declined comment. “I’m not comfortable saying yes or no,” she said. “It’s just not appropriate.”
Seide volunteers at the store, Deinzer said. “This is a very personal matter.”
There are two individuals named David Rice living in Shrewsbury, and this fact led to confusion on social media Monday regarding which David Rice was killed in the fire. According to Town Clerk Mark Goodwin, David B. Rice owns the property. The other David Rice was a teacher at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon and sits on the Shrewsbury Planning Commission. “He is currently in Florida,” Goodwin said.
Seven fire departments — Wallingford, East Wallingford, Mount Holly, Clarendon, Rutland Town and Ludlow — assisted the Shrewsbury Fire Department battle the intense flames.
State police fire investigators were called to the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and Carrara said he expects results in the next few days.
kathleen.phalentomaselli @rutlandherald.com
The two-story property at 8539 Cold River Road, owned by Lavinia Seide and Rice, was engulfed in flames when Shrewsbury Fire Chief Russell Carrara arrived at the scene, which was about a mile from his home.
“I’m guessing it was on fire probably 25 or 30 minutes,” he said. “Embers were already falling down in my yard.”
Shrewsbury firefighters got the call at 3:47 p.m. Friday and were on the scene in six minutes, he said.
Carrara reported that Seide told him Rice was still in the home, and they tried repeatedly to enter. “The fire was too intense, we couldn’t get in,” he said. The body of the man was found in the basement because the upper floor was burnt out, he said. “This is a tough one for everyone, so much was destroyed.”
There were two cats in the home, neither of which has been found, he said.
Throughout the day Monday, the community posted online condolences to Seide about Rice, but his identity was not confirmed until late afternoon.
Carrara said he does not believe Rice was trapped by the fire, but perhaps the explosions, heard before firefighters arrived at the scene, were related to his death.
“As far as we can tell, we can’t see why he couldn’t get out,” he said. “The explosions that we heard were possibly why he did not get out, but until I hear from the state police investigators, we won’t know.”
The explosions might be related to the oil furnace, he said, pointing to several similar explosions in the area. “There was one in Ludlow. The boiler blew up.”
The W. E. Pierce Store at 2658 Northam Road in Shrewsbury is collecting cash donations to assist Seide, but Sally Deinzer, the store’s manager, declined comment. “I’m not comfortable saying yes or no,” she said. “It’s just not appropriate.”
Seide volunteers at the store, Deinzer said. “This is a very personal matter.”
There are two individuals named David Rice living in Shrewsbury, and this fact led to confusion on social media Monday regarding which David Rice was killed in the fire. According to Town Clerk Mark Goodwin, David B. Rice owns the property. The other David Rice was a teacher at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon and sits on the Shrewsbury Planning Commission. “He is currently in Florida,” Goodwin said.
Seven fire departments — Wallingford, East Wallingford, Mount Holly, Clarendon, Rutland Town and Ludlow — assisted the Shrewsbury Fire Department battle the intense flames.
State police fire investigators were called to the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and Carrara said he expects results in the next few days.
kathleen.phalentomaselli @rutlandherald.com
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