Explosions Reported At Concord Homeless Camp: Watch

CONCORD, NH — Concord firefighters and police are investigating explosions and a fire at the homeless camp behind the Everett Arena on Loudon Road on Monday.

At just before 4:30 p.m., Tower 1, which was in the field performing training along the river, told dispatch they were headed to the woods behind the boathouse for a report of black smoke billowing from the area. Tower 1 requested Engine 7 to come to the area immediately, too.

Not long after the call, reports began coming in that there were explosions in that area of the city.

Fire command reported a fire at the camp with “multiple propane tanks going off.” The battalion chief said they would be assessing the area for possible victims. They also requested a forestry unit to assist.

Concord police were also requested to the scene later. Dispatch sent three officers to the area saying, “We really don’t know what we have yet.”

After firefighters entered the camp, the commander said the fire was contained and it looked like a few tanks had exploded. Firefighters pumped water from the Merrimack River to finish extinguish the fire.

After about 15 minutes, the fire was contained and the fire commander requested fire prevention to investigate.

Chief Sean Brown said no one was injured due to the explosions.

NEWS 603 posted a video on YouTube.com.

It is unknown if anyone will be charged or arrested but there were reports of a fight at the camp before the incident occurred.

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This is at least the second or third time that tanks with gas or explosions were set off near or at a homeless camp during the past few months.

In April, firefighters were sent to the Water Street bridge for a report of an explosion and a fire. In May, police and firefighters were sent to the I-393 bridge for a report of a dumpster fire due to propane tanks that were set on fire and exploded. Christopher Blodgett, a homeless man, was accused of setting the fire and was arrested on a number of charges. In late July, firefighters and police were sent to a homeless campsite underneath the I-393 bridge for another fire without an explosion though.

Issues with the woods and homeless camps behind the Everett Arena date back at least eight or nine years and have led to at least a few deaths. After fights about jurisdiction between the city and state of New Hampshire as well as lawsuits, campers were cleared from the area but have returned during the past few years.

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