UPDATE: Man Injured in Salon Fire Identified

UPDATE, 5:00 P.M.: The Windham Fire Department has issued a release identifying the victim who was hospitalized following this morning's Rockingham Road fire.

According to the release, Ron Savage of Savage Plumbing and Heating was taken by ambulance to Parkland Medical Center in Derry for treatment of burns to the hands and smoke inhalation. 

No age or address for Savage was given.

In the release, McPherson added to comments from earlier this morning, saying that the fire may have started accidentally while a worker was performing maintenance on a gas fixture at Hair Solutions Hair Salon.

He said that the fire is currently being investigated by Deputy Chief William Martineau, but that the fixture may have malfunctioned causing an explosion.

Salem, Derry, Londonderry, Pelham, Hudson and Hampstead assisted at the scene while Hudson and Nashua provided station coverage. The Salvation Army from Derry also assisted.

The bulk of the fire damage was contained to the salon and Infinite Graphics Resources.

A cut in the roof was made by firefighters in order to stop the spread of the fire, and the remaining occupancies received heavy smoke and water damage.

UPDATE, 9:50 A.M.: Fire Chief Tom McPherson said a man suffered first degree burns in this morning's fire.

He said the fire started at Hair Solutions by Jane & Company around 8:30 a.m., and was declared under control around 9:30. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the chief said there were reports of an equipment malfunction. The man who was injured was the only person inside when the fire started, he said.

McPherson said the fire was contained to the Hair Solutions salon, and did not spread to the other businesses located in the plaza.

UPDATE, 9:10 A.M.: The fire at 11 Rockingham Road has reportedly been knocked down, but crews are remaining on scene for overhaul.

An employee at Infinite Graphic Resources who was at the scene of the fire this morning said he was on his way to work when the fire started. Brad Segal said he was told the fire started between Infinite Graphic Resources and Hair Solutions.

Also at the scene of the blaze were several business owners, including Jane Baetz of Hair Solutions, the business where the fire originated.

UPDATE, 8:50 A.M.: One person is now reportedly being transported from the fire scene to the hospital for smoke inhalation, according to emergency radio broadcasts.

Route 28 is reportedly closed from the Salem/Windham line to the Route 111/Route 28 intersection as crews continue to battle the blaze.

About a dozen fire vehicles are now at the scene. Heavy smoke is still pouring from the rear of the building.

An earlier story follows:

Windham firefighters are at the scene of a 2-alarm fire in a commercial building on Rockingham Road this morning.

The first call for a report of smoke showing from a 1-story commercial building at 11 Rockingham Road came in around 8:20 a.m., according to emergency radio broadcasts. It was quickly upgraded to a 2-alarm fire, with smoke showing from the roof and heavy flames in the rear of the building. Derry, Salem, Pelham and Londonderry engines have all been called to the scene.

According to emergency radio broadcasts, the initial report was for a broken gas line with smoke at Policy Well and Pump, one of several local businesses that list 11 Rockingham Road as their address. The others are ABC RC & Hobbies, Total Tax Solutions, Hair Solutions, Merlin Printing and Copying, and Infinite Graphic Resources.

Several roads in the area of the fire have been blocked off, and motorists are urged to seek other routes. The fire scene is located near the intersection of Rockingham Road (Route 28) and Route 111.