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

June 17, 2026

Royalton Barracks / Fatal fire investigation

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

CASE#: 26B2003004

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Detective Trooper Mengbei Wang

STATION: VSP Royalton

CONTACT#: 802-234-9933

 

DATE/TIME: 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2026

INCIDENT LOCATION: 5 North Common, Chelsea, VT

INCIDENT: Fatal fire investigation

 

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

The Vermont State Police is investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found following a fire early Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at a house in Chelsea.

 

The fire was reported at about 3:15 a.m. at a single-family residence at 5 North Common. Members of multiple fire departments including Chelsea and Tunbridge responded and extinguished the blaze after approximately 3.5 hours. The building is a total loss.

 

During a subsequent search of the structure, investigators located the remains of two people. Their bodies will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for autopsies to confirm their identities and determine the cause and manner of their deaths.

 

The deaths are being investigated by the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations – Troop B East. The origin and cause of the fire is under investigation by the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.

 

Anyone with information that might aid investigators is asked to call VSP’s Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933 or provide an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

 

No additional details are available at this time. The state police will share updates as the case proceeds.

 

- 30 -