Camper, Building Fire In Portsmouth Caused By Space Heater: Report

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The Portsmouth Fire Department said an electric space heater, too close to combustible material, was the cause of a camper fire that spread to a building on Saturday.

Around 10:45 a.m., fire and rescue teams were sent to the Safeway Storage on McDonough Street for a report of a camper fire. When they arrived, they found a camper engulfed in flames next to the building. The fire, according to Chief William McQuillen, spread into the building.

“Engine 3 provided a water supply and hose lines were stretched into the building by Truck 5 and Ambulance 2 crews where smoke conditions provided little visibility,” he said. “The seat of the fire was located and held from spreading due to the operation of the building's sprinkler system. Companies extinguished the remaining fire and began extensive smoke removal operations.”

All companies were sent to the fire, McQuillen said, while Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Newington, Rye, and Kittery, Maine, firefighters and EMTs offered mutual aid.

McQuillen said improper use of an electric space heater inside the camper, specifically, “being placed too close to combustible material,” caused the fire. The department’s fire prevention bureau investigated the cause, he said.

McQuillen said electric space heaters should be kept at least three feet from anything combustible.

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