18-22 Elliot St, Structure Fire, MAYDAY
Keene, NH, November 6, 2025:
Date of Incident: November 6, 2025
Time of Call: 08:10 am
First Unit on Scene Time: 08:13 am
Units Back in Quarters: 3:29 pm
Type Incident: Structure Fire
Assigned Apparatus: Keene Fire: E1, E2, TL-1, L-2, A-2, A3, A-4, T-1, C1, C2, C4, K1, K2, K3, K4
Number of Keene Personnel Assigned: 35 Keene Personnel
Number of Mutual Aid Personnel Assigned: 70 Mutual Aid personnel
Mutual Aid Units Assigned: Swanzey, Spofford, Chesterfield, Brattleboro, Jaffrey, Peterborough, Marlborough, Surry, Walpole, Hinsdale, Winchendon MA, Bellows Falls VT, Winchester, Putney VT, Cheshire County Ambulance, Rescue Inc Ambulance
Type Occupancy: 3 Unit Multi-Family
Type of Construction: Ballon Frame Wood Construction
Building Owner: PSP Management LLC
Injuries Reported: 4 Firefighters Transported with Injuries
Summary of Incident:
At 08:10, the City of Keene Fire Department was dispatched on Box 9022 (E1, E2, L2, A4, A2, C4, C2) for a reported residential structure fire at 20 Elliot Street, Keene. Upon arrival, initial companies observed heavy fire involvement on the first-floor porch, extending into the second floor and attic space. No occupants were found outside the residence to meet responding personnel.
The building is a 3 Unit, 3 floor, 3,606 square foot building originally constructed in 1885. The exterior walls are vinyl-sided over wood, the interior walls are plaster, and the roof is an asphalt shingle pitched roof.
Command requested the full balance of the box for a working residential structure fire (Keene Tower/Ladder 1, Keene Tanker 1, Swanzey Engine, Jaffrey Engine, Brattleboro Ladder, Walpole Rescue, Keene C1). A second alarm was struck moments later.
Ambulance companies initiated an aggressive primary search of the Bravo 1 exposure apartment (left of the fire unit) on both the first and second floors. While searching the second floor, crews from A4 and E1 became cut off by rapidly deteriorating fire conditions originating from the first-floor stairwell and second-floor apartment. The first MAYDAY was transmitted from the exterior by C2 on behalf of the interior crews, followed by two additional MAYDAYs from Engine 1 and A4 personnel.
Two of the three firefighters were able to isolate themselves in adjacent rooms and vent through exterior windows, where they were rescued via ground ladders by other members. The third firefighter was located in the second-floor hallway by members of Ladder 2 and Engine 2. In response to the MAYDAY, an additional alarm and multiple ALS units were requested, upgrading the incident to a third alarm.
Following their rescue, all affected members were treated on scene by A3 personnel before being transported to Cheshire Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment. An additional member was transported for other injuries not sustained in the MAYDAY incident. All those who were transported have since been released.
Remaining companies worked to contain a fast-moving fire. Suppression efforts were complicated by balloon-frame construction, high winds, and multiple openings that allowed for rapid lateral fire spread. All primary and secondary searches were completed with negative results. All occupants were later confirmed safe and were not home at the time of the incident.
Also present and active at the scene were the Keene Police Department, Eversource, and Keene Public Works. KFD would also like to thank Fire Mutual Aid dispatchers for their communications during a very dynamic incident, as well as Alpine Healthcare Center and Keene State College for their donations of food and coffee, and other area businesses, which allowed firefighters to utilize their facilities during the incident.
Estimated Property Loss:
Total loss of building and contents is estimated at $700,000.00.
Origin and Cause:
The origin and cause of the fire are currently under investigation by the City of Keene Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office. Any inquiries or information related to the investigation should be emailed to fire-marshal@keenenh.gov.
For further information contact:
Jason Martin, Fire Chief jmartin@keenenh.gov
Gregory Seymour, Deputy Fire Chief gseymour@keenenh.gov
Richard Wood, Fire Marshal fire-marshal@keenenh.gov
