NH Firefighter Charged with Setting 190-Acre Forest Fire

CONCORD, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Safety has made an arrest in connection with the Stoddard forest fires that have scorched nearly 200-acres of land in the western part of the state.

David Plante, 31, of Stoddard, was arrested on April 22, 2016, on one count of arson.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the NH Department of Safety. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to request a name be removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

Plante, according to NH DOS, was a firefighter in the town.

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Plante refused the services of a bail commissioner and is being held at the Cheshire County House of Corrections pending arraignment in the Cheshire County Superior Court in Keene on April 25.

“At this time, investigators do not believe additional suspects are involved,” according to Public Information Officer Michael Todd. “The investigation is ongoing and authorities anticipate additional charges will be forthcoming.”

The fire, which raged for days, closed Route 9 and spread across about 190-acres. Firefighters from nearly 40 departments worked to put out the blaze.

Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, and others met with emergency management and fire officials this morning to inspect the damage of the fire.

The American Red Cross sent 24 volunteers to the area and opened a reception center but it turned out that local residents did not need it, according to Lloyd Ziel, a spokesperson for the Red Cross. Volunteer teams worked with community partners like Coke NNE and Smith’s Medical to deliver more than 1,000 drinks as well as hundreds of meals and snacks to first responders.

Historians have noted that a similar fire nearby raged in late April 1941. In that case, more than 27,000 acres burned during the course of two days, from the Historical Society of Cheshire County. More than 2,000 people worked to put the fire out.

Law enforcement officials have asked anyone with information regarding the Stoddard forest fires to call New Hampshire State Police Headquarters at 603-271-3636.