Four people jump from second-story window to escape Chestnut Street fire

By Jordan J. Phelan
[email protected]
Residents living at a single-family home in Claremont were forced to jump from a second-story window after a fire broke out early Sunday morning, according to initial reports by investigators.

The Claremont Fire Department and safety services responded to a call of a heavily involved structure fire at 86 Chestnut St. at 3:07 a.m. A general alarm was struck for all personnel to respond. Fire personnel were on the scene within two minutes with a compliment of two engines and a crew of three.

Initial reports from the units first to respond said they encountered flames engulfing the front main portion of the building, a single-family home reported to be owned by Lindsay Cohen and Kody Wright of Claremont.

Claremont Fire Chief Bryan Burr said four adults – two males and two females – have been taken to Valley Regional Hospital by Golden Cross Ambulance with undisclosed injuries.

According to investigators, those inside the house at the time of the fire had to flee via a second-story window as the main exit was blocked by the flames.

Mutual Aid was requested. Cornish and Newport Fire Departments responded. Ascutney covered the Claremont Fire Station while crews fought to stop the fire.

Burr said in the a press release Sunday morning that the cause of the fire appears accidental and not suspicious. It appears there was one working smoke alarm on the second floor at the time of the fire, according to fire officials.

“We continue to remind and urge everyone to install working smoke alarms on all levels of your home,” Burr said. “They are your first line of defense in the event of a fire in your home.”