A firefighter fell through the first floor of a home as he battled a fire in Whitefield, the fire chief confirmed to WMUR. The firefighter was evaluated at the scene and was deemed to be alright before returning to help his fellow firefighters battle the blaze.
The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. Friday at a home on Highland Street, according to the chief.
“Our main focus when we got on scene was the neighbor’s house, being so close,” said Chief John Ross of Whitefield Fire Rescue. “So we wanted to make sure we protected that.”
Other neighbors who saw the flames sent pictures and videos to News 9. “When I got up this morning, I expected everything to be flat. It had been so hot. I could feel the heat inside the window,” said neighbor Anna Zanes.
A couple who was living at the home was able to get out safely, the chief said. However, their pets — two dogs and two cats — did not make it out.
The house is a total loss, and the Chief says the cleanup process will take a while. “It will probably be two days just knocking it down. Then they have to find a vendor and try to get rid of the debris,” he said.
Lancaster, Jefferson, Dalton, Lisbon, Littleton and Bethlehem fire crews responded to help extinguish the fire with station coverage from Bath and Littleton, the chief told WMUR, further adding that the home is a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
