One Dead, One Injured After Reported House Explosion And Fire In Derry

DERRY, NH — Derry firefighters and police responded to a report of an explosion on Goodhue Road on Thursday just before noon.

Several calls followed, reporting a fire at a residence. Upon arrival, a house was found heavily engulfed in fire. There were reports of an injured child at a nearby address and a person unaccounted for at the location of the explosion. It was reported over the radio that “the building is on the ground and an order to take defensive firefighting positions.” Tankers brought water to the scene and also took it from a nearby brook a short distance from the fire.

At a press conference, New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Derry Fire Chief Shawn Haggart, and Derry Police Chief George Feole confirmed that an elderly woman died in the structure and a child was transported to a Boston hospital with injuries but is expected to survive.

Fire Marshal Toomey said the name of the victim will not be released until an autopsy is completed Friday, and at that time, the identity and the cause of death will be released. Toomey did confirm that the victim and the child are related.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family here: "Help Violet and her family after losing everything today."

The injured child was located by a neighbor who brought her to a safe location awaiting paramedics to arrive and also notified firefighters there was one person unaccounted for.

Initial investigation has determined that a tree fell onto a propane tank moments before the house exploded. Sources say when the tree came down, it also took the power on the side of the building, possibly causing the explosion. Toomey said all aspects of the explosion remain under investigation. However, it appears to be accidental, and no criminal elements exist.

Auburn, Chester, Hampstead, Hudson, Londonderry, Nashua, Salem, Sandown, and Windham fire departments assisted the Derry Fire Department. The Derry CERT Team also assisted with personnel rehabilitation.

The investigation into the origin & cause of the explosion and fire is active and ongoing by members of the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Derry Fire and Police Departments.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news