Fire Causes Heavy Damage to Merrimack Home

Firefighters responded to a report of a working fire on the Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack on Sunday afternoon.

The call for a fire at 496 D.W. Highway was reported at 4:50 p.m., according to emergency radio broadcasts. The initial call was for a chimney fire, but arriving companies found heavy fire showing from two sides of the single-story wood framed residential home.

Due to the extent of the fire, exterior operations were initiated with hand lines. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, firefighters entered the building to finish extinguishing the fire and begin overhaul. The fire was declared under control around 5:20 p.m. and the last units cleared the scene around 7 p.m.

No one was injured, but the building is uninhabitable. The homeowners are staying with family.

The cause of the fire has been determined to be a chimney fire that extended into the structure.

Mutual aid was received by Nashua, while Manchester and Amherst covered Merrimack's stations.

The D.W. Highway was closed between Wire and McGaw Bridge roads until abut 7:20 p.m. due to the fire, with motorists detoured down Wire and McGaw Bridge roads.