KEENE, N.H. – The Keene Fire Department responded to a blaze at the Keene Transfer Station late Friday night, the second time within the last week.
First responders were called to the scene at 55 Summit road around 10:15 Friday night for an unknown type of outside fire, according to a news release. They arrived on scene and found a large trash fire extending to a nearby excavator and it was upgraded to a first alarm, with a request for tanker trucks for water supply.
The response was a bit delayed as other units were already committed to another incident, the release didn’t indicate what that incident was. Water supply was established at the facilities 30,000 gallon cistern, and required multiple fire engines to pump the long distance to the fire, and multiple tanker trucks were required to fill the cistern.
Despite an aggressive effort, the excavator was unable to be saved and is considered a total loss. The estimated dollar loss for this incident was estimated at $400,000.
Crews remained on scene until 4:00 Saturday morning. Crews from Westmoreland, Gilsum, Swanzey, Sullivan, Spofford, and Chesterfield all assisted on scene with Swanzey, Marlborough, Troy, and Walpole providing coverage.
The cause of the Friday fire has not been determined and remains under investigation by the Keene Fire and Police Departments and the State Fire Marshal’s office has been notified. Anyone with information about this or the previous fire at the transfer station is asked to contact Fire Marshal Rick Wood at RWood@keenenh.gov.
No damage was reported in a blaze earlier in the week at the transfer station. Crews responded to the second alarm fire early Thursday morning and were able to contain the flames quickly and services at the transfer station resumed as usual that day.
Preliminary investigations into that fire suggested there was not significant structural damage and while the exact cause is unknown, it appears to have originated from incompatible materials disposed of, leading to spontaneous combustion.
According to a news release at the time, that fire was the second at the facility within the last seven years and the City is actively exploring preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
