Pellet Stove Sparks Hudson House Fire

Hudson Fire responded to a house fire at 284 Derry Road just after midnight on May 28, likely caused by an improperly installed pellet stove.

According to Hudson Fire Prevention Officer Steven Dube, Litchfield's Engine 4 was the first to arrive at the home of George & Peggy Stanley, just after midnight on Tuesday, to find smoke coming from the one-story ranch-style home. 

The Stanleys had already evacuated. Crews discovered smoke and fire coming from the side of the home related to a pellet stove in the basement. Occupants told fire officials they were alerted to the fire from the smell of smoke, and that they did not have smoke detectors.

Hudson fire officials have determined this to be an accidental fire likely caused by the vent pipe for the pellet stove being in a concealed place between the basement drop ceiling and press board plywood on the floor joists to the main floor.

Dube explained that the heating and cooling effect on this empty space over the last year caused the ordinary combustibles to pyrolize, or decompose, and reduce the ignition temperature of the ordinary combustibles there until Tuesday, when the pellet stove fire caused ignition.

The flre burned a hole through the front of the house where the vent pipe exited the home. Fire officials reported water, fire and smoke damage to the basement area and smoke damage throughout the main floor.

In addition to Hudson and Litchfield fire companies on the scene, Londonderry Fire sent an engine to cover the Litchfield Fire Station.

Dube said this fire provides an opportunity to remind the public that  a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Whether you're awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on aiert, scanning the air for fire and smoke," Dube said.

According to ithe National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. There are many different brands of smoke alarms available on the markei, but ihey fall under two basic types: ionization and photoelectric.

Dube recommends that all residences should be equipped with:

. Both ionization AND photoelectrie smoke alarms, OR

. dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors

ln addition io the basic types of alarms, there are alarms made to meet the needs of people wiih hearing disabilities. These alarms may use strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to assist in alerting those who are unable to hear standard smoke alarms when they sound.