Damien Dovarganes/AP
A fire broke out at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office in Burlington, Vermont, on Friday, damaging the building but leaving the occupants unharmed. State authorities are currently investigating the fire as arson and are searching for an unidentified male suspect.
According to the Burlington Fire Department, when crews arrived at the Church Street office on Friday morning, the sprinkler system and fire alarms were activated. I discovered that it was occurring.
“The fire was extinguished and the senator's office and surrounding offices were searched and the occupants removed,” they added.
No injuries were reported, but authorities said the door to Sanders' office sustained moderate fire damage and the third floor and the floor below sustained significant water damage.
The brick building includes some office and retail space. It was once home to a Masonic temple and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to local alternative weekly newspaper Seven Days.
The fire department announced later that day that the Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was “incendiary in nature,” meaning it was intentionally set. Vermont State Police and Burlington Police have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the fire.
Burlington police said they were searching for an unknown male suspect who sprayed a possible accelerant on an office door, set it on fire and fled the scene, according to the Associated Press.
Police said in a statement: “The massive fire destroyed part of the door and entrance, preventing employees working in the office from leaving and putting their lives at risk.” “The sprinkler system was then activated and the fire was largely extinguished.”
Authorities have not determined a motive and say the suspect remains at large. Police released a grainy photo of the man wearing an orange beanie, a dark jacket, white Nike sneakers and what appeared to be a tote bag.
Sanders, a Burlington resident who served as mayor before being elected to Congress, was not in office or in the state at the time of the incident. He was rallying with striking hotel workers on picket lines in Los Angeles.
“No staff members were harmed, and it is our understanding that no one inside the building was harmed,” Kathryn Van Heist, Sanders' state director, said in a statement to the media. I'm relieved,” he said.
She credited the quick action of local first responders and said they are now working with the U.S. Capitol Police and Senate Sergeant Sgt.
The U.S. Capitol Police protects Congressional buildings and members of Congress, both in Washington, D.C., and in its local area.
The agency announced in January that threats against members of Congress had increased in the past year, with its threat assessment unit opening 8,008 investigations. That's about 500 more people than in 2022, but still less than the past two years.