The Claremont Fire Department, as well as several other departments in The Eagle Times coverage area, helped extinguish a four-alarm apartment fire in Lebanon on Thursday night. While the fire’s cause is under investigation, it is not believed to be suspicious.
According to information provided by the Lebanon Fire Department, at 10:59 p.m. the Lebanon Fire Department responded to a fire in the second-floor apartment at 39 Mechanic Street. The building is also the home of the ice cream shop, Dairy Twirl, located on the first floor.
The 911 call indicted that there were three occupants who evacuated the apartment, but they were “stranded on the roof and in immediate danger.” In only six minutes’ time, the occupants were safely evacuated.
“Lebanon Police Sergeant Logan Scelza arrived on the scene at 11:01 p.m.,” the report stated. “Acting decisively, Sergeant Scelza located the individuals and utilized a nearby vehicle to assist them in safely descending to the ground.”
Lebanon Fire Department’s Engine 2 arrived at 11:04 p.m. and “quickly initiated an aggressive attack on the fire while simultaneously conducting searches for any additional occupants.”
Firefighters had the challenge of heavy fire along with extreme cold, which rapidly depleted resources and led to a fourth alarm. The fire was declared under control at 1:05 a.m. There were no reported injuries to civilians or emergency personnel, but there was “significant property damage” from the blaze. Crews were reportedly gone from the scene at 6 a.m.
Fire departments from Claremont, New London, Hanover, Hartford, Enfield, Canaan, Plainfield, Woodstock, Hartland, Windsor, Lyme and Grantham assisted. Also assisting was the Lebanon Police and Public Works Departments.
Anyone with information can contact the Lebanon Fire Department at 603-448-8810 or through the online portal at ebanonnh.gov/FormCenter/Citizen-Requests-5/Contact-Form-180.
—Bob Martin, Eagle Times Staff