By Howard Weiss-Tisman
The Brattleboro Reformer
HINSDALE, N.H. — A Hinsdale man was able to save his own life, but little else, after an early morning fire Sunday completely destroyed his home.
Jeremie Hood escaped from his house at 30 Plain Road after waking up to find flames, according to Hinsdale Fire Chief Robert Johnson.
Johnson said Hood left the burning building without even his cell phone and it took him a while to contact the fire department about the fire.
When the Hinsdale Fire Department showed up, at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, the fire was fully engaged and Johnson said the firefighters simply beat back the flames without sending anyone into the house.
The department’s response was also slowed down by a hydrant that was not working.
Johnson said it was not clear whether the hydrant froze or was inoperable, but by the time the fire department was able to get water to Hood’s home, the building was mostly gone.
The severity of the fire will make it very hard for the department to determine a likely cause of the blaze.
“There isn’t anything left but a cellar hole,” Johnson said. “It was a total loss and I don’t think we will ever be able to make a determination.”
Hood was the only one in the house at the time.
Johnson said Hood fled without his phone and drove into town to report the fire but the pay phone was not working.
Hood was eventually able to wake someone up, but by the time the fire department arrived on the scene there was not much left to save.
Becky Field, the director of community relations for the New Hampshire Red Cross, said the organization was reaching out to Hood to help him get back on his feet and will stay in touch through the coming few days.
The Hinsdale Department did not send out a second signal because the fire had completely engulfed the house and there was little else to do but beat back the flames.
“There was a big delay before we were notified,” Johnson said. “We did not put any people in. Our job was to wet it down and put it out.”
According to Johnson, Hood was using a heater to thaw out some frozen pipes but Johnson said it will probably be impossible to know for sure what happened.
Copyright 2011 MediaNews Group, Inc. and New England Newspaper Group Inc.
All Rights Reserved