Exeter Home Badly Damaged In Fire, Owner Escapes

EXETER, NH — A 1 ½-story house on Stevens Court was badly damaged in a fire Tuesday night, the Exeter Fire Department wrote in a news release Wednesday morning.

The department arrived just before 8:40 p.m. at the home, from where the owner was able to escape without injury and was evaluated by rescue personnel, Exeter Fire wrote.

Upon arrival, firefighters found flames on the first floor in a corner at the rear of the house.

“There was heavy, black smoke showing," Deputy Fire Chief Donald Matheson said.

A nearby fire hydrant aided firefighters as they moved quickly to knock the fire down, though not before the fire caused extensive fire damage to the first floor and heat, smoke, and water damage throughout the building, according to the department.

The fire was brought under control by 9:11 p.m. and fire crews cleared by 11:30 p.m, Exeter Fire said.

“For some of our newest firefighters, this was their first fire and they have certainly benefited from our enhanced training program," said Matheson, who serves as the department’s training officer. "Earlier in the day, I had provided a reading smoke class to the on-duty shift and those skills were utilized just a few hours later."

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Matheson said it appears to have been accidental.