Tag Archives: New Hampshire

Apartment Building, Residential

Merrimack, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

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On Friday, Merrimack Fire crews were dispatched to the Halstead Apartments in Merrimack for a fire alarm activation.

Upon entering the building, crews were met with representatives from building maintenance stating that they observed smoke coming from a unit on the fourth floor.

Crews observed smoke beginning to fill the stairwell as they were trying to reach the fourth floor. When crews finally arrived at the scene, they observed smoke banked down to the floor and the fire sprinkler system operating inside the apartment.

Fire officials began a search of the apartment to find any occupants who may still be there. Officials located one handicapped occupant in a fourth-floor apartment and evacuated them from the building.

The incident resulted in fire damage to the apartment, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Merrimack Fire Marshal’s Office.

Merrimack Fire Crews are fortunate that this building had a properly installed automatic fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems which, once activated, provided an immediate alarm to the occupants of the building and to the emergency communications center. The building’s fire sprinkler system operated and extinguished the fire as designed. If these systems were not present and properly maintained, this incident could have resulted in far greater damage and possible injury to occupants.

Athletic Club/Sports Facility, Other Business

Nashua, NH – Sprinkler system activated for attic fire at country club

An attic fire activated sprinklers at Nashua Country Club, causing extensive interior water damage.

At approximately 7:30.a.m. Nashua Fire Rescue responded to a report of smoke in the building from a property rep at 25 Fairway Street, The Nashua Country Club.

Engine 2 was first to arrive and established command and met the property rep who stated that there was a fire in the attic. Ladder 2 arrived and reported a sprinkler activation. C4 arrived and assumed command.

E4 arrived and assisted with water supply and additional suppression. Units were able to access the attic in two locations and discovered a partially extinguished fire being held in check by the sprinkler system. E2 reported the fire knocked down and the sprinklers were shut down. Ladder 2 opened up a small portion of the roof to allow for ventilation. Crews remained on scene with extensive salvage and overhaul

The building sustained extensive water damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Hudson, NH – Sprinkler system activated for classroom fire at school

Alvirne High School students and staff were evacuated Thursday morning to the nearby Hills Garrison Elementary School after flames broke out in a first-floor classroom, School District Superintendent Dan Moulis said.

Nobody was in the classroom when the fire, which Moulis described as an “oil fire,” ignited, triggering alarms and the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters arrived within minutes and promptly called for a “working fire” response, which brought additional Hudson crews to the scene and a request for mutual aid companies to respond either to the scene or to cover Hudson stations.

First-arriving crews conducted a search to make sure nobody was still in or near Classroom 108, the room in which the fire is believed to have originated.

The first-responding crews and other firegighters quickly extinguished the flames, and were able to contain them to that classroom, according to Moulis.

The incident was reported under control within a few minutes, and some students and staff began returning to Alvirne at about 9:20 a.m., roughly an hour after they were evacuated, according to Will LeBlond, the school district’s communications coordinator.

LeBlond said district officials decided shortly after 10 a.m. to dismiss school for the day “to ensure that the building could be properly cleaned.”

Classes will resume Friday as scheduled.

A section of Derry Road (Route 102) was closed for a period of time to give crews plenty of space to operate and to lay hoses across the road.

LeBlond said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential, Residential High Rise

Nashua, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire at 8-story apartment building

At approximately 7:54 a.m. on November 23, 2025 Nashua Fire Rescue dispatch center  received the master box for 56 Tyler St. Engine 4 responded and was updated while in route of a  possible fire on the fourth floor. Engine 4 arrived on scene of an 8-story apartment building with  nothing showing from the exterior. Engine 4 reported a fire in the hallway of the 4th floor. The fire was held in check by two operating sprinkler heads. Engine 4 used the high-rise pack to tie  into the standpipe system to fully extinguish the fire.  

Crews conducted evacuations below the fire floor and displaced occupants were sheltered at 57 Tyler St. Emergency Management and Red Cross worked with the occupants to find  accommodations for those residents that were displaced.

There was water damage to 14 units and approximately 30 occupants were displaced. The structure sustained fire damage in the 4th floor hallway of the building.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Nashua Fire Marshall’s Office.  Mutual aid to the scene: None

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Hampton, NH – Sprinkler system contains fire in attic at restaurant

Firefighters responded to an attic fire at the Old Salt Restaurant at Lamie’s Inn Oct. 13, quickly extinguishing a blaze that was largely contained by the building’s sprinkler system. 

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, said Fire Chief Michael McMahon.

McMahon said the Fire Department received a call from the alarm company at approximately 5:15 a.m. Engine 6 from Hampton’s beach station responded swiftly, followed by Engine 2 from North Hampton and crews from across the Seacoast, including Portsmouth, Rye and Seabrook.

Firefighters arrived at the Old Salt around 5:25 a.m. and located the fire roughly 10 minutes later, McMahon said.

“It took a while to locate the fire because it was in an attic space, which had limited access,” he said. “It was a sprinkler-controlled fire, so three sprinkler heads in the attic space activated and controlled the fire and kept it in check until we were able to get a line up there and finish extinguishment.”

Though the building did not sustain any structural damage, McMahon said the water damage was “extensive.”

Crews from Hampton Falls, Exeter and Kingston provided coverage of Hampton’s station while its firefighters were responding to the call, McMahon said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Nashua, NH – Sprinkler system contains blaze at apartment building; No injuries reported

A fire sprinkler system helped contain a fire at an apartment building Sunday afternoon in Nashua, limiting damage and preventing injuries, city fire officials said.

Nashua Fire Rescue responded to Arel Manor at 165 Pine St. just after 2 p.m. after receiving an automatic alarm from the building’s fire detection system, according to Deputy Chief Kevin Kerrigan, who was incident commander.

Engine 2 crews arriving from the Lake Street station found signs of sprinkler activation on the third floor. Engine 4 crews from Crown Hill station located the fire in a third-floor apartment. The fire was being suppressed by the building’s sprinkler system, officials said.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the remaining flames using hose lines. Fire crews remained on scene for more than an hour conducting salvage operations and clearing smoke from the building, according to a news release.

Two residents were displaced by the fire. The affected section sustained smoke and water damage, while apartments on lower floors received water damage from the sprinkler system, officials said.

The American Red Cross responded to assist displaced residents. No injuries were reported.

The Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. In all, 30 Nashua Fire Rescue personnel responded with four engines, two ladder trucks and support vehicles. Merrimack Fire provided station coverage during the response.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Lebanon, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire in warehouse; No injuries reported

A Benning Street warehouse was damaged in a fire Thursday evening.

Lebanon firefighters responded to a fire alarm activation at 82 Benning St. shortly after 9:30 p.m., according to a Lebanon Fire Department news release. No one was injured. Firefighters are still investigating the cause, which is “not believed to be suspicious.”

After responders discovered black smoke coming from the 163,000-square-foot, mixed-use warehouse, they sent out a call for additional assistance.

“Initial investigation revealed a heavy smoke condition in the front office portion of the building with active sprinkler flow,” according to the release. Firefighters found that that the sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading beyond the room where it had started, illustrating “how a working sprinkler system significantly reduced property loss and helped the single occupant in the building escape safely.”

Firefighters — including those from the Hartford, Hanover and Norwich fire departments — remained on the scene until 10:45 p.m.

The building is owned by Worcester, Mass.-based Benning Street LLC, and has an assessed value of $7.6 million, according to Lebanon property records.

Hospital/Care Facility, Other - Hospital/Medical

Concord, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire at dentist’s office; No injuries reported

A fire in the basement of a dentist’s office in Concord was quickly extinguished in part because of the building’s sprinkler system Wednesday morning, Concord Fire Chief John Chisholm said. 

Concord Fire was dispatched just after 9:20 a.m. and smoke was reported in the building. Firefighters were able to quickly locate a small fire in the basement of Generations Dental Care offices at 9 Triangle Park Drive. The modern building’s sprinkler system had been activated, keeping the fire in check, according to Chisholm. There were no injuries.

Firefighters dragged hoses into the building and cleared the offices of smoke while employees and patients were evacuated.

A preliminary investigation determined that the fire started in the area of a trash can and that it was accidental, though its exact source remains unclear, Chisholm said.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Litchfield, NH – Fire in laundry room extinguished by sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at Mels Funway Park early Friday morning, encountering smoke and a small fire that was swiftly contained by the building’s sprinkler system.

Engines 1, 4, and Tanker 3 were dispatched to 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy at 3:47 a.m. following the alarm.

The first officer on the scene, a Litchfield Fire lieutenant who lives nearby, reported smoke on the first floor of the three-story building.

A working fire assignment was immediately requested, bringing additional support from Londonderry, Hudson, and Merrimack, including a ladder truck, an engine, an ambulance, and a battalion chief.

Upon the arrival of Litchfield C1, command was established for the incident.

Fire crews meticulously searched the large building for the source of the smoke, a process that took significant time due to the building’s size.

The four occupants of the building were safely evacuated, and all floors were checked.

Light smoke was found on the third floor, but there were no conditions on the second.

The fire, located in a first-floor back laundry room filled with storage items, had been extinguished by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived.

Once the fire was confirmed to be out, the building was ventilated, air quality was monitored, and the area of the fire was isolated to prevent any further incidents.

The building was then cleared and turned back over to the property representative, allowing all occupants to return.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by authorities.

All fire companies involved cleared the scene at 5:30 a.m.

Apartment Building, Residential

Exeter, NH – Sprinkler system activated for vehicle fire in parking garage; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system is being credited with stopping the spread of a vehicle fire in the parking garage at the bottom of an Exeter apartment building Sunday morning.

The fire started just before 3 a.m. in Building A on Willey Creek Road inside the Ray Farm community off Route 27 in Exeter, according to Exeter Fire Chief Eric Wilking. Residents of four story building were evacuated for about an hour as firefighters put out the blaze and remained on scene to remove smoke and remove the smell of smoke and gasoline from the garage, stairways and hallways.

“This fire certainly had the potential to spread, but the sprinkler system and quick work of our crews kept it at bay. The incident is a good reminder about the effectiveness of a working sprinkler system,” Fire Chief Eric Wilking said in a statement.

No one was injured in the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.