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Structure fire at 131 Birch Mountain Road draws mutual aid; Bolton officials praise firefighters
Summary
A structure fire at 131 Birch Mountain Road on Oct. 27 required mutual aid from neighboring departments; officials said the building appeared unoccupied for about four years, a second flare-up occurred the same afternoon, and investigators have not determined a cause.
A structure fire at 131 Birch Mountain Road on Oct. 27 prompted responses from Bolton and neighboring departments and drew praise from local officials for the firefighting effort.
Fire Marshal Bill Call told the Bolton Fire Commission that Bolton, Andover, Hebron, Glastonbury and Manchester fire departments, along with ASM, were on scene. Chief Dixon also reported the incident during the commission’s regular meeting on Oct. 27.
"The structure appears to have been not occupied for approximately 4 years," Bill Call said during his report, adding that the fire "did not appear to be intentional" and that after firefighters extinguished the blaze a second fire re-ignited in the afternoon. "The BVFD did an excellent job putting the fires out," he said.
The commission did not record a cause for the blaze at the meeting. Call said investigators were not sure of the exact cause. The minutes note that the department handled 44 calls since the previous meeting and listed multiple notable incidents, including several motor-vehicle accidents and a mutual-aid water rescue to Tolland.
Commissioner Robert Langton publicly thanked Chief Dixon for his leadership and expertise at the Birch Mountain fire; the commission recorded that thanks during old-business remarks.
The chief also flagged routine operational items: winterizing of equipment including the boat and UTV, and training updates — one member is enrolled in Firefighter I and an officer is taking Officer I and II courses. Commissioners were reminded that Capital Improvement Project submissions are due to the Board of Selectmen on Nov. 14, 2025.
The commission did not take any formal action related to the investigation at this meeting. The department indicated it will continue investigation and follow-up outside the public minutes.
