Bennington, Vt. house fire ruled as arson

State police are investigating an indicent of arson that took place on Gage Street in Bennington early Sunday morning. At approximately 3:16 a.m. Sunday morning, the Bennington Fire Department responded to a reported fire at 113 Gage Street, where they found smoke issuing from the rear of the four-unit apartment building. Three residents were outside, having already self-evacuated, and told first responders they believed there was still someone inside the building. Members of the fire department forced entry into the residence, initiating a search while carrying both a 1 3/4" water hose and a back-up line with them into the apartment. Three separate fires were found and extinguished within the residence. After locating an initial source of fire in the entryway, firefighters found two more fires, one in each of two bedrooms. The fire was suppressed by 3:45 a.m. No one was injured as a result of the fire. The press release from the Bennington Fire Investigation Unit names Kristin Long, 32, as the resident of the property, which suffered from $20,000 in damages, and was ruled a total loss. A second apartment was also vacant.