A Very Busy Day for Merrimack Fire

MERRIMACK, NH - Merrimack Fire and Rescue teams were sent to three fire calls within 30 minutes of each other, according to Fire Marshal John Manuele.

At just before 12:30 p.m. on May 9, 2016, teams were sent to the Amherst Kayak and Canoe building at 114 Route 101A for a fire that went to four alarms.

Less than 15 minutes later, Engine 1 was called to the area of King Kone on the Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack for smoke in the area. Firefighters searched the area and found a brush fire in the woods off Hoyt Street. Merrimack Forestry 1 was called in and extinguished the fire.

While at those fires, another call came in for a structure fire at 22 Queens Way in Merrimack.

“The call was made by a Comcast service technician who was working in the area and heard dogs barking and saw smoke coming from the roof of the house,” according to Manuele.

Mutual aid was requested from Manchester and Nashua but Nashua could only send a ladder truck since they had two engines in Amherst. An emergency recall was made for any available off duty Merrimack firefighters and mutual aid calls were made to Bedford, Litchfield, and Londonderry, according to Manuele.

The arriving crews saw smoke coming from the roof of the home. Two very scared dogs were secured from the home while they began looking for fire in the building.

“The fire was found in the attic above the master bedroom, and had burned through several floor joists and was spreading further,” Manuele said. “Suppression crews were able to quickly knock down the main fire after tearing down a portion of the ceiling and began searching for extension.”

The fire was under control at just before 1:30 p.m. Two cats were also uninjured, according to the report. The owner of the home returned and took control of the home, which is still livable, despite the heavy damage in parts of the attic, some electrical issues, and water damage. Firefighters cleared the scene at around 2:45 p.m.