Concord Fire Extinguishes Homeless Camp Fire Along I-93: Video

CONCORD, NH — It was an early morning of firefighting and transportation of injured people for Concord fire and rescue teams on Friday after they were called to another homeless camp fire, this time, along Interstate 93.

Around 2:15 a.m., 911 dispatch began receiving calls about a fire, possibly at Terrill Park off Old Turnpike Road. At the same time, a Concord police officer on patrol reported a fire, that appeared to be quite large, in the area of William Healy Memorial Park and West Terrill Park. He speculated it was probably at a homeless camp. The area where the fire occurred was a strip of land between the Interstate and the Merrimack River, owned by the city of Concord. The officer said he would assist firefighters when they arrived.

After arriving, fire command informed dispatch it was going back to get a forestry unit since the fire was along a trail off Basin Street and not accessible to the engine. When asked if they thought they needed backup firefighters, command said, “No.”

At around 2:45 a.m., separate Concord police and EMT units were then sent to the Speedway on Hall Street to assist a man with burns on his hands who said he had just come from the camp and needed assistance. The man was then taken to Concord Hospital after being evaluated.

At just after 3 a.m., a forestry unit went into the woods, along a trail, attempting to access the camp but was unable to.

“We can’t access the fire,” command said. “To get to this location is probably going to be another 30 minutes.”

Firefighters began discussing over the radio whether to try and access the fire from the river. Eventually, they decided to continue into the woods and brush to try and access fire.

Police then reported to fire dispatch that another person, with a foot injury, who was eyed by firefighters earlier, needed assistance again. That person was injured while trying to retrieve water to extinguish the fire, according to Sean Brown, the Concord fire chief.

A second ambulance was sent to Basin Street to assist that person and they were taken to Concord Hospital, too.

Around 4 a.m., the fire was extinguished and firefighters cleared the park.

NEWS 603 posted a video on YouTube.com.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Concord firefighters were sent to the homeless camps behind Rocky’s Ace Hardware and El Rodeo Restaurant for fires. Both times, firefighters quickly extinguished the fires.

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