LOOK: Fire Tears Through Amherst Home

Fire departments from multiple towns responded to Amherst this morning to take down a 3-alarm fire roaring through an Amherst home.

Firefighters were still on the scene this afternoon battling a blaze at 80 County Road, Amherst. The fire was called in this morning around 9:40 a.m., and seemed to be dying down around 11 a.m.

Amherst deputy fire chief Matt Conley said although it is still too early to call, it seems that the fire started around the chimney in the front corner of the home. That is where the heaviest flames were when he arrived on the scene.

The building is composed of an older portion built around the 1930’s, and a new construction built in 1985. This difference in construction made it difficult for firefighters to handle the interior, according to Conley.

Crews from Amherst, Milford, Mont Vernon, Hollis, Bedford and Merrimack were all on the scene of the fire this morning.

The home is owned by Phil and Joan Martin, who luckily were not inside when the fire started. Phil Martin said he came back from an appointment to see fire trucks in his driveway. He also believes the fire started in the chimney, although he had just cleaned it out himself about a month ago.

Martin said that he had been working on his taxes all month, but was pretty sure all of his financial information and tax documents were destroyed in the fire. He was also looking to replace his roof in the spring.