Date of Incident: April 8, 2020
Time of Call: 2034 hours- Still Alarm, Upgraded to 1 st Alarm-2043 hours, 2nd Alarm requested at 2057 Hours
First Unit on Scene Time: 2043 Hours
Under Control: 2222 Hours
Units Back in Quarters: 0020 Hours
Type Incident: Building Fire- Trash Transfer Station Building
Assigned Apparatus: Car 3, Engine 1, Engine 2, Ladder 2, Ladder 1, Tanker 1, Car 3, Duty Chief- Cl
Number of Keene Personnel Assigned: On Duty Staff- 9, Re-called off Duty Personnel (Career and Call Company 13)
Mutual Aid Units Assigned:
At Scene Units: Brattleboro, VT, Chesterfield, Gilsum, Harrisville, Spofford, Sullivan, Swanzey, Troy and Westmoreland Fire Departments
Covering Fire Units: Marlborough, Swanzey, Walpole and Bellows Falls, VT Fire Departments
Type Occupancy: Sanitation Transfer Facility
Type of Construction: Non- Combustible 2- story
Building Owner: City of Keene
Injuries Reported: None Reported
Summary of incident: Fire units were dispatched to a automatic fire alarm activation at the facility. The first arriving fire unit (E 1) reported a working fire in the trash transfer portion of the facility and requested the incident be upgraded to the 1st. Alarm.
The initial crews were assigned to establish a water supply from the on-site water cistern and to start fire suppression of the fire. Crews also worked to protect the exposure building, which is the larger main recycling facility connected directly to the fire area. The crews were able to knock down a large portion of the fire within the first 45 minutes to contain it from spreading to the main building. Crews remained on scene till 0020 hours to extinguish all of the fire with the assistance of the on-site excavator and loader.
Several area departments assisted with water supply operations by shuttling water from the City fire hydrants located on Forge Street. Diluzio Ambulance also provided a crew on scene as medical standby. City of Keene Staff assigned to the facility also assisted on scene along with the Director of Public Works and the City Manager.
Injuries Reported: None
Estimated Property Loss: The fire was contained to trash transfer portion of the facility. The dollar loss has not yet be estimated and remains under review. The structure did sustain damage to the walls and roof and possibly the steel frame of the structure.
Fire Origin and Cause: Remains under investigation by the Keene Fire Department. Anyone with information related to the fire is asked to contact Lt. John Bates of the Keene Fire Department at 603-757-1863 or via email jbates@ci.keene.nh.us