Exeter home heavily damaged by fire, homeowner escapes; Hampton blaze knocked down quickly
EXETER — A home suffered significant damage Tuesday night from a fire on Stevens Court, though the homeowner was able to escape without injury.
Exeter fire officials said they responded to the 1½-story wood frame residence at 9 Stevens Court at 8:39 p.m. and arrived to find heavy black smoke throughout the residence. They also found flames on the first floor and advanced with a single hose line into the building for a coordinated attack.
The homeowner who escaped was evaluated by rescue personnel. Meanwhile, firefighters used a nearby hydrant to quickly knock the fire down. The fire was brought under control by 9:11 p.m. and fire crews cleared the scene by 11:30 p.m.
The fire caused extensive damage to the first floor, and heat, smoke and water damage throughout the building, according to the fire department. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Deputy Fire Chief Donald Matheson said it appears to have been accidental.
Matheson said the fire was one of the first for some of the department’s newest hires. Earlier in the day, those firefighters underwent a class on reading smoke, which helps firefighters predict fire behavior. The skills were utilized just a few hours later.
“They certainly benefited from our enhanced training program,” said Matheson, the department’s training officer.
Exeter fire was assisted by the departments from East Kingston, Hampton, Newfields, Newmarket, North Hampton, Durham, Hampton Falls, Kensington and Kingston Ambulance.
Fire knocked down at Hampton Beach
Seacoast firefighters had a busy day for fires Tuesday. Many of the same crews also responded to a blaze at Hampton Beach earlier in the day.
Hampton fire received a call reporting a fire at 22 H St. at 5:22 p.m., according to Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon. The fire was believed to have started in the laundry room area on the left side of the building located between its first and second floors.
The building was believed to have been unoccupied at the time, according to McMahon. He said the fire extended outside of the building up the walls into the ceiling of an overhanging porch. It was knocked down within 15 minutes and under control by 6:03 p.m.
As in Exeter later that night, the fire reached a first alarm, calling mutual aid from departments in North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Rye, Amesbury, Massachusetts, Greenland, Portsmouth and Kingston.
McMahon said when his firefighters returned to the station, they got the call to go to Exeter. He said the day demonstrated how much the departments rely on each other to keep the Seacoast safe.
“None of us have the staffing or durability to handle a first alarm by ourselves,” McMahon said. “That’s what Exeter transmitted, a first alarm, and that brings a fair amount of mutual aid.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter firefighters knock down house fire on Stevens Court
