Fires strike two Hudson residences over the weekend
HUDSON – Fire crews from Hudson and surrounding towns fought two residential blazes within 13 hours over the weekend, beginning with a call around 11 a.m. Sunday to a large apartment building at the corner of Central Street and Maple Avenue for a smoky fire that officials say likely started in a washer-dryer combination unit and spread into adjacent walls and a ceiling.
Then, just after midnight Monday morning, firefighters were summoned to 20 Adams Drive for a reported fire within a wall of the split-level home.
Upon arrival, Capt. Kevin Blinn discovered heavy fire coming from the residence, prompting him to call for a working fire response, which brought Nashua Ladder 3 and Windham Engine 3 to the scene to join Hudson Engines 1 and 4, Ladder 2 and Squad 1, and Nashua Engine 4, Blinn said.
He said crews were able to knock down the brunt of the flames in minutes, but the process of locating and extinguishing hot spots and opening up walls and ceilings to check for fire extension kept crews busy for some time.
Blinn said the cause of the fire remains under investigation by Fire Prevention Officer Steven Dube. He said the home, which is owned by Michael and Patricia Farrell, was left uninhabitable for the time being, and a team from the local American Red Cross chapter is assisting the family with temporary housing and other needs.
The occupants safely evacuated the home, and no injuries were reported, Blinn added. He said crews from Litchfield, Londonderry and Pelham covered Hudson stations during the incident.
As for the earlier fire, calls came in just after 11 a.m. Sunday reporting a building on fire near the corner of Central Street and Maple Avenue, the address of which crews determined to be 2B Maple Ave.
They also reported smoke showing from the building, then Blinn, who was among the first to arrive, called for a working fire response upon discovering fire coming from the rear of the building.
Again, Nashua sent Engine 4 and a ladder truck to the scene, while Windham sent an engine to assist Hudson’s crews. Londonderry, Pelham and Windham crews covered Hudson stations.
An AMR ambulance from Nashua was also called to stand by at the scene of both fires.
Blinn said one firefighter sustained a laceration to his hand from broken glass, but the injury was considered minor.
Everyone in the building was able to safely evacuate, Blinn added. He identified the owners as Robert Sweeney and Susan Dufault, but it’s not clear whether they live in the building or live elsewhere.
Town property records don’t show a 2A or 2B Maple Ave., but list a Susan and Robert Dufault as the owners of 27 Central St., a 3-unit apartment building on the corner of Central Street and Maple Avenue.
Blinn said the fire appears to have started in the washer-dryer unit, with flames spreading to the adjacent wall.
While fire damage was contained to the appliance and the wall, the apartment and an adjacent one sustained smoke and water damage, Blinn said.
Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.