The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. If you have a question regarding an incident or case, please contact your local state police barracks or the public information officer. Please note news releases are available on this blog for at least 30 days following their public release. Releases are generally archived the second month after publication. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older.

Search This Blog

January 25, 2026

Royalton Barracks / Fatal fire investigation

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

CASE#: 26B2000383

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Detective Trooper Eric Acevedo, Detective Sergeant Christopher Blais

DFS INVESTIGATOR: Assistant State Fire Marshal Shawn Goodell                       

STATION: Royalton Barracks                  

CONTACT#: 802-234-9933

 

DATE/TIME: About 10:10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026

INCIDENT LOCATION: 4573 Vermont Route 14, Sharon, VT

 

VICTIM: Pending positive identity and notification of next of kin

AGE:

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Sharon, VT

 

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, the Sharon Fire Department and South Royalton Rescue Squad were dispatched to a fire in a camper trailer at 4573 Vermont Route 14 in Sharon after numerous 911 callers reported seeing black smoke coming from the camper. Sharon Fire arrived, entered the camper and extinguished the fire. Sharon Fire located a man deceased inside the trailer.

 

Sharon Fire requested assistance from the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit in determining the origin and cause of the fire. FEIU members worked with detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations to investigate the fire and the untimely death. Preliminary investigation indicates this was an accidental fire related to smoking materials and is not considered suspicious. The deceased man was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for autopsy to confirm identity and determine the cause and manner of death. The man’s name is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.

 

Anyone with information regarding the fire is asked to contact Detective Trooper Eric Acevedo at the Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4600, or Detective Sgt. Christopher Blais at the Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933.  Information also may be submitted by contacting the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).

 

- 30 -