Hudson Fire Chief Discovers Blaze in his Neighborhood

A brush fire April 7 behind a log cabin at 17 Breakneck Road in Hudson quickly spread to a nearby log cabin due to dry, windy conditions.

Hudson Fire Chief Shawn Murray, who lives in the area, noticed smoke near his home and drove to the scene to discover not only about an acre of brush engulfed in flames, but a 2,000 square foot log cabin home burning, with fire starting to work its way inside the cabin.

Murray upgraded his first report of a brush fire to a house fire and not long after that, requested the second alarm for additional tankers and manpower due to the heavy winds at this location, dry conditions and the fire spreading fast.

In addition to Hudson fire and police, mutual aid was provided by Nashua Fire for a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and station coverage; Salem Fire for coverage; Windham Fire for a tanker; Litchfield Fire for a tanker and an engine for coverage; Tyngsborough Mass., Fire for a tanker; Derry Fire for a tanker;  and the Salvation Army for rehabbing firefighters on the scene.

The property has been turned back over to the occupant, who is salvaging contents of the cabin. Property owners Mario and Denyse Plante were contacted by fire officials.

The Fire Prevention Division has completed its investigation and when all of the information about the fire has been collected and reviewed the actual cause of the fire may be more evident. At this time the fire is listed as undetermined cause with the most probable cause being an ember from the home’s recently stoked furnace exiting the chimney and possibly sparking the brush fire outside as it hit the ground, igniting the flammable construction of the exterior of the home and available combustibles in the area near the home.