Press Release
2- Alarm Fire 35 Grove Street, Keene NH.
Date of Incident: November 16, 2019
Time of Call: 0105 hours- First Alarm, 2nd. Alarm requested by Car 3 @0119 hours
First Unit on Scene Time: 0110 hours
Under Control: 0133 Hours
Type Incident: Building Fire
Assigned Apparatus: Ladder 2, Car 3, Engine 1, C1, C2, Ambulance 3
Number of Keene Personnel Assigned: On Duty Staff- 9, Re-called off Duty Personnel- 5
Mutual Aid Units Assigned:
At Scene Units- Diluzio Ambulance, Brattleboro Engine- (cancelled en-route)
Covering Fire Units: Chesterfield, Spofford, Swanzey and Walpole
Type Occupancy: Residential rental unit
Type of Construction: (Type V) Wood-frame, two story
Building Owner: Keene Student Rentals
Injuries Reported: One civilian occupant checked on scene for exposure to heat and smoke.
Summary of incident: Fire and Police units were dispatched at 0105 hours to 35 Grove Street for reported smoke in the building. Keene Police Officers arrived before the first fire units and entered the building to check for residents. The officers quickly encountered moderate smoke conditions on the second floor and a fire in one of the rooms. While a couple of the officers used fire extinguishers in an attempt to contain the fire, the remaining officers located and safely removed a male occupant that was found in a rear room on the second floor.
Car 3 arrived and was briefed by the Police officers who had by now all exited the building. Crews from Ladder 2, Engine 1 and A3 arrived and assigned to advance a line to the second floor to extinguish the fire conduct primary and secondary searches of the building. The searches found the building clear of any other occupants.
Chief Howard credits the Keene Police units on scene with saving the life of the second floor occupant. The occupant was removed safely from the building by the Police Officers. He was assessed on scene by EMS personnel for exposure to heat and smoke.
The 2nd. Alarm units were directed to provide station coverage to the two Keene Stations.
The fire was contained to a room and hallway on the second floor, with heat, smoke and water damage on the second floor. Damage on the first floor was limited to water and smoke. The building damage is estimated at $50,000 and four occupants have been displaced as a result of the fire.
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
For further information contact:
Mark Howard- Fire Chief