By Alec O’Meara
The Union Leader
LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Firefighters are working to determine the cause of a fierce, propane-assisted fire that charred one-half of a South Londonderry home early yesterday morning.
“We’re trying to continue to smile,” homeowner Timothy Winings said.
Five people, including homeowner Winings and his 26-year-old daughter Marissa Winings, were able to escape the 13 Kestree Drive home uninjured, Londonderry Fire Chief Kevin MacCaffrie said. The boyfriend of Marissa Winings and two other family friends were in the house following a party that night, MacCaffrie said, as were four dogs.
At approximately 3 a.m., Winings heard a popping sound coming from a corner of the home and then saw the fire tearing through the right side of the home. When firefighters arrived, much of the right hand side of the home was already on fire, MacCaffrie said, including a 250-gallon exterior propane tank, which was venting flammable gas and creating a hot, localized blaze with flames shooting over the roof of the home. The valve on the tank had melted and was unable to be closed, creating a dangerous situation for firefighters.
“We basically had to keep two lines on the propane tank at all times to keep it cool, then used the rest of what we had to attack the fire,” MacCaffrie said. “We were able to get an aggressive attack on the home itself and kept the fire to one side of the building. The guys did an excellent job.”
Winings, a surveyor and architect, said watching the house burn while waiting for the firefighters to arrive was difficult. He said he was impressed with the firefighters’ speed and professionalism in knocking the fire down, however.
“It seemed like it took forever for them to arrive, but I’m sure that’s how it feels for anyone in that situation,” Winings said. “Once they were here, they did an outstanding job, and it seemed everyone wanted to do whatever they could for help.”
Roughly 90 minutes and 20,000 gallons of water were required to knock down the fire, MacCaffrie said, with tankers shuttling water in from South Elementary School three-quarters of a mile away. A comparable fire without the propane tank issue would have likely required less than 10,000 gallons of water to achieve the same result, the chief said.
Firefighters from Windham, Litchfield, Pelham, Auburn, Bedford, Hudson and Derry assisted in fighting the fire. Manchester and Nashua departments provided station coverage.
Later in the afternoon, Winings talked with contractors about how to board up what was left of the charred half of his home. He and his daughter will be staying with family friends for now.
“That is all taken care of for now,” Winings said. “We have a place to stay.”
MacCaffrie estimated that four of the 2½-story home’s 10 rooms were lost in the fire, with several of the other rooms damaged by smoke.
The fire is believed to have originated outside the home, possibly in a porch area, but is not considered to be suspicious, he said. Damage is estimated at approximately $250,000.
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