A City on Fire: Concord NH in 2015

CONCORD, NH - Concord seemed like a city on fire in 2015 and Chief Dan Andrus confirmed that it was an extraordinarily busy year for the department.

Fire calls are up slightly from 172 in 2014 to 183 (through Dec. 15) with structure fires increasing from 37 that occurred last year to 41 this year, so far.

“Those include mutual aid responses and the many small fires that never make the headlines, but there were some notable fires including some very close calls, including a June fire on Airport Road that occurred in the very early morning and the fire two weeks ago where the occupant was awakened by her dog,” Andrus said in an email. “These incidents underscore the need for working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and escape plans.”

The year 2015 will also be remembered by Concord Fire – and the community – because it was the first time in “almost exactly” a decade that a city resident – Kevin Curdie, a local photographer – perished in a fire, Andrus noted.

EMT calls and responses have also increased by 7.7 percent, according to Andrus, due mostly to an aging city population and the opioid crisis.

“Service calls – capturing everything from assisting the police to helping people who have fallen but are otherwise unhurt – are up to 793 calls from 645,” Andrus stated. “False alarms are down from 865 calls in 2014 to 780 this year … For the first time, we will exceed 8,000 calls this calendar year. There have been a few years in the recent past where we were below 7,000 calls per year.”

Concord NH Patch fire coverage in 2015

(Jan. 1, to Dec. 20, 2015).

• One Dies in Fatal Concord Fire
• 70+ Firefighters Battling Concord Brush Fire
• UPDATE: Man Found Deceased at Rumford Street Fire
• State Officials: Concord Man Died from Smoke Inhalation
• Concord Fire Chief: ‘Human Causation’ Suspected
• Concord Brush Fire Contained
• Cat Killed in Early Morning Airport Road Fire
• Silk Farm Road Fire Damages Home, Injures Occupant
• Concord’s Marjory Swope Park on Fire
• WATCH: Concord Fire Tackles Norwich Street Blaze
• West Concord Fire Completely Out
• Fire Chief: More than 60 Acres Scorched in Brush Fire
• Kitchen Fire at Meadowbrook Apartments Forces Evacuation
• Concord Fire Evacuates Tenants After Dryer Fire
• Concord’s Most Senior Fire Officer Retires After 35 Years
• Dolloff Named Concord Firefighter of the Year
• Firefighters Extinguish Blaze at Concord Steam
• Power Restored After Tree Limb Damages Utility Pole

Andrus stated that during the New Year, department employees would continue to train in basic skills and also new threats, like active shooter scenarios. This training will focus on being as prepared as possible or, as Jim Duckworth, the head of Local 1045 calls it, a Swiss Army knife for the community, he noted. Andrus added that he was grateful to work with the Concord Police Department on National Night Out, which helps improve public safety education, as well as the Concord VNA, Riverbend, and Concord Hospital.

The firefighters of Local 1045

The Professional Firefighters Local 1045 of Concord has been working with Patch this year to share some of its content with readers, including notes on Facebook, that explain some of the activities firefighters work on and explain why things work a certain way – like uploading their incredible helmet video cams.

Here are some of their most popular posts for the year:

• Concord Firefighter Union Facebook Post Goes Viral
• WATCH: Concord Firefighters Tackle Garage Blaze
• When a Firefighter Comes Out, the Brotherhood Stands with Him
• Concord Fire: We Only Use Lights in an Emergency
• WATCH: Concord Firefighter Videos from Rumford Street
• Concord Firefighters Distribute Free Winter Coats Saturday
• WATCH: Firefighters Thanked for Coat Drive Efforts
• Concord Firefighters: This is What Rehab is All About
• Concord EMS: A Big Bang for Your Buck
• WATCH: Never Deep Fry a Frozen Turkey
• Concord Fire Hosts ‘Old Central’ Christmas Dinner

Andrus added that he would also remember 2015 for all the community activities firefighters in Concord were doing both on and off the job that the stats never capture.

“I constantly get letters from people thanking our people for their exceptional customer service,” he said. “Whether it is taking a moment to put someone’s groceries away, or making sure that family members are taken care of after a loved one has died, these folks always go the extra mile.”

Paramedics were working with students both the New Hampshire Technical Institute and the New England Emergency Medical Services Institute as well as working with the Explorer program and the Concord High School’s Career Regional Technical Center Fire Science program.

1045 and Concord Fire Officers Association Local 3195 have also sponsored numerous community events and programs while off duty including staffing the phones at the Boys and Girls Club annual auction, supporting MDA, raising thousands of dollars for Operation Warm, working on toy drives, and the city’s food drive for the Human Services Department.

“I am proud of all that they do, and deeply honored to be working in a department whose members care so very much for their community,” Andrus noted.

Other popular posts

Other firefighters also had a busy year in 2015:

Elderly Man Pulled from Plane Crash by Firefighters

See: Firefighters Save Deer From Frozen Pond

Concord Firefighters Help Out in Manchester

Franklin Woman Faces Felony Arson Charge