Concord Firefighters Battle 2-Story Homeless Shack Fire: Watch
CONCORD, NH — Concord fire and rescue teams, including the department’s forestry units, were sent to a homeless camp fire off Hall Street on Tuesday night.
Just before 8:15 p.m., capital region fire dispatch began receiving reports about a fire along the railroad tracks near the South End Marsh and Poplar Avenue at Schnitzer’s. Dispatch said witnesses reported it was a “homemade two-story shack” that was on fire and it was fully involved.
“We pulled it off on the camera,” dispatch told firefighters heading to the scene. “It’s going pretty good.”
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The fire commander asked where the calls were coming from, and the dispatcher said witnesses called in from Interstate 93 and “all over the place.”
Firefighters went to Hall Street to try and figure out how to access the camp. They began searching the area on foot before the ATVs arrived and confirmed the fire. After about 15 minutes, firefighters realized accessing the area from Hall Street would be problematic from all points.
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One firefighter suggested trying an access point near the new Railyard apartments on Langdon Avenue.
Explosions, probably from propane tanks, could be heard from the scene while several residents watched the fire from South Main Street.
Along with the shack, a 40- to 50-foot area, including trees, was confirmed to be burning. The fire commander at the scene requested two forestry units. They also said it appeared everyone had been evacuated from the area.
Just before 8:30 p.m., firefighters reported one of the trucks was stuck on the tracks and they would not be able to access the site from the southern area. Later, they were able to free the truck from the tracks.
Other firefighters checked the area from the east side of Langdon Avenue and confirmed it would be a better access point. A firefighter used a chainsaw to cut brush while another laid wooden planks to access the tracks. From there, the forestry units headed to the fire.
Just past 9:30 p.m., the fire commander stated most of the fire had been put out at the camp but requested more water to finish the job. Many of the firefighters also began clearing the scene.
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