Crime & Safety

Cause of Beach Fire Still Under Investigation

The fire killed two pets and displaced multiple families early Saturday morning.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire that in Hampton around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Prevention Officer Scott Steele said the cause of the fire, which was first reported at roughly 2:34 a.m. Saturday, is "undetermined" as of Monday afternoon.

Steele said the fire was reported by one of the occupants inside of the two-story, woodframe building, which is located between O and P streets and, according to the Union Leader, was home to Harris Realty.

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engines 2 and 3 were dispatched to the fire along with a Seabrook Fire Department aerial ladder truck, and shortly thereafter Engine 2 declared the scene a working fire and requested a second alarm, said Steele.

Crews got the fire under control around 4 a.m. and none of the three families living in the building were injured, although the fire did claim the lives of one dog and one cat, according to the American Red Cross.

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The Red Cross said 10 adults and three children — ages 7 months, 4 years and 9 years. The organization provided assistance for food, clothing and temporary lodging for all of those displaced by the fire.

Steele credited the "aggressive and efficient fire attack deployed" by members of the Hampton Fire Department and assistance from departments in , Portsmouth, Hampton Falls, Amesbury, Greenland, Seabrook, Salisbury, Dover, Rye, Exeter, Newburyport, Newfields, Stratham, the Portsmouth Navy Yard and York.

Steele said there was heavy damage to the room and contents of the second-story apartment involved in the fire, and that the adjacent and first-floor living spaces and office space was damaged by the travel of smoke from where the fire originated.


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