Police offer more details, seek tips in two suspicious fire investigations

August 2, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti 

Vermont State Police on Tuesday issued a public statement with more details about two suspicious fires they are investigating in Waterbury Center that happened in July. 

Waterbury Fire Department responds to the Sweet Road fire on July 1. Photo courtesy of Glenn Andersen

This was the first instance of a public report in the fire on Sweet Road on the morning of July 1. Police last week issued a statement regarding a second fire on Loomis Hill Road on July 23. 

The new public information describes both incidents and asks for the public’s help if anyone has information that might aid investigators. 

In both cases, the structures were unoccupied and no one was hurt, according to officials. And regarding both, police said: “The cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be the result of direct human involvement and the circumstances surrounding the fire are considered suspicious.”

On Friday, state police Capt. Shawn Loan who oversees the state Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit described both as active arson inquiries and said investigators are working to determine if the fires are connected in addition to analyzing evidence to learn the origin and cause in both cases. 

The July 1 fire destroyed a camper on Sweet Road. Photo courtesy of Glenn Andersen

July 1 fire

The first fire happened on July 1 at 1615 Sweet Road in Waterbury Center, across from the Hunger Mountain hiking trail parking lot, at a property owned by Glenn Andersen, 50.

At approximately 6 a.m. the Waterbury Fire Department was called about a camper on fire. Firefighters responded, finding the camper to be fully engulfed in flames. “Fire suppression efforts were conducted but the camper was a total loss,” the state police statement says. 

Firefighters alerted Andersen about the fire, according to Detective Sgt. Christopher Blais, the lead investigator on the case. That’s because the camper was located approximately a quarter mile from Andersen’s residence on the property and Andersen was unaware of it, he said.

July 23 fire

Detective Sgt. Clark Lombardi at the Derby barracks and with the Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit is investigating the July 23 fire when an 8x10-square-foot shed burned at 152 Loomis Hill Road, the home of Carrie Marshia, 57, according to officials. 

The call reporting that structure fire came at approximately 2:06 a.m. to the Waterbury Fire Department, police said. When firefighters arrived, they found the shed to be fully engulfed in flames. The shed was located about 100 feet from home on the property. Marshia said no one was home at the time of the fire.

Police said that Dillon contacted the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit to request assistance in determining the origin and cause of both fires.

State investigators have examined both fire scenes for clues, the state police statement says, and investigators are requesting the public’s assistance with information regarding either of these incidents. Lombardi can be reached at the Derby Barracks, 802-334-8881; Blais at the Royalton Barracks, 802-234-9933.

Alternatively, anyone with information may contact the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program at 800-32-ARSON, a separate entity from the state police. Through funding from insurance companies, it offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. 

These suspicious fires occurred in July when multiple additional incidents took place at Andersen’s property including on July 11 when an unexploded Molotov cocktail was found in a shed adjacent to Andersen’s house. Police arrested John Neville, 51, of 145 Loomis Hill Road, who has pleaded not guilty in Washington County criminal court to an attempted arson charge. The explosive did not cause a fire.

Other incidents that resulted in charges included a July 2 assault on Andersen for which Neville has been charged and pleaded not guilty. Neville has court-ordered conditions to not contact Andersen.

In an email to Waterbury Roundabout, Andersen thanked the responders and investigators working on these cases. He added a request for anyone with details to notify authorities. “I appreciate the diligence and professionalism of all the dispatch, first responders, state troopers, Waterbury Ambulance … and all of the investigators and detectives following up on these cases. Truly grateful to all of you on behalf of my entire family,” Andersen said. “I encourage anyone with knowledge of these events to come forward to the Troopers, States Attorneys.”