BROOKLINE -- Three buildings are believed to have been destroyed by a fire Sunday on Merrill Drive.

At the scene about 6:15 p.m. Sunday, NewBrook Fire Chief Todd Lawley said the cause has not yet been determined. An excavator was being called to the scene.

"Everyone is out," Lawley said.

Bernard Arbunkle, a deaf man, and his caretaker were safe from the fire. Lawley said he will be contacting the owner of the property.

According to accounts at the scene, the three buildings included two sheds and a trailer. The back of a house also was burned.

Firefighters responded to a call for a brushfire at about 4:24 p.m. Sunday but it's unclear whether the brushfire came before or after the fire in the buildings. They quickly extinguished the fire then addressed hotspots.

Rescue Inc. joined the NewBrook Fire Department at the scene along with several fire departments including Brattleboro, Dummerston, Grafton, Townshend and West Dover.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help Arbunkle:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bernie-and-brother-after-devastating-fire?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=customer&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_ft&attribution_id=sl:146ede04-e559-42ad-9fa9-e1aba2555e5b