Epping Multi-Alarm Fire On Depot Rd Doesn't Appear To Be Suspicious

EPPING, NH - Fire Officials from Epping Fire and the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office continue to investigate the cause of a multi-alarm fire at North Atlantic Fuels on Depot Road.

The fire brought over a hundred firefighters from dozens of departments across Southern New Hampshire.

Upon arrival at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, responders found four tanker trucks containing oil fully engulfed in flames. Multiple alarms were requested to bring personnel, water supply, and specialized services.

A specialized unit from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport responded to a fire with high volumes of foaming agents, quickly extinguishing the intense flames. Before the arrival of the truck, water was being used to contain the fire, but it was not making any progress in extinguishing it.

The Lamprey River, which is close to the fire scene, is one of the water supplies for Durham and the University of New Hampshire; there was concern about hazardous materials making it into the river. Saturday night crews used absorbent pads and protective booms to block the spread of the dangerous materials.

As a precaution, the Lamprey River Treatment facility was shut down until the contamination level could be investigated in the area of the fire scene.

Investigators have reportedly located the location where the fire started. The New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed the fire did not appear suspicious or involved criminal intent.

Three tankers and the cab of a tractor-trailer were destroyed in the fire.

North Atlantic Fuels delivers firewood and wood pellets across southern Maine and the Seacoast. The company does some deliveries with home heating oil, which appears to be the burning product.

Epping Fire Rescue thanks all mutual aid towns and personnel for their assistance with the fire in a post on FaceBook

In 2019, Epping Fire responded to an accident on Route 101, which closed the highway when a tractor-trailer was compromised in an accident and 6,000 gallons of gasoline spilled. That incident also recovered a large mutual aid response.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news