The Keene Fire Department was dispatched at 1127 hours to the Keene Post Office at 196 Main Street for an automatic fire alarm activation.
The first fire department units (Engine 1 and C2) arrived on scene at 1130 hours. Upon arrival, crews were informed of a fire in one of the front offices. A 1st alarm was requested at 1133 hours. Upon investigation, crews found a small fire in a box in an office at the front of the building. Postal workers had extinguished a majority of the fire with a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Fire crews were able to carry the box out of the Post Office and wet it down with a water extinguisher. No fire extension to the building was found, however, there was a smoke condition that required extensive ventilation . The fire was called under control at 1139 hours.
The Keene Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit worked with the Keene Police Department to determine that the fire was started by the improper storage of batteries . Fire damage is estimated at $200 dollars.
For further information contact:
Jeffrey Chickering
Deputy Fire Chief
City of Keene Fire Department
jchickering@ci.keene.nh.us