Copyright keenesentinel
Update 1:45 p.m.: Crews remained at the scene as of 1 p.m. to finish overhauling and investigating the scene and rescuing what they could of the residents' personal belongings, Deputy Fire Chief Greg Seymour said. No tenants were injured in the fire. Update 12:25: One northbound lane of Main Street is now open. Both southbound lanes are open. Cheshire EMS Chief Mark Kreamer said five firefighters were taken to the hospital due to the fire. Update 12:21: The roof of the house collapsed on the south side. Update 12:12 p.m.: Keene Fire Chief Jason Martin said three firefighters sustained minor burns and smoke inhalation in the initial search of the house on Elliot Street. He said no one was at the house at the time of the fire. He said the cause of the fire is not yet clear. The fire was knocked down around 11:30 a.m., he added. Update 11:30 a.m.: A local nursing home has set up a refreshment station on the corner of Elliot and Main streets Thursday morning. Lisa Deming, an activities director with Alpine Healthcare Center and a former first responder, set up a station with coffee, donuts and water. "We're a very big proponent of helping whenever we can," she said. Update 10:50 a.m.: City officials say the fire is "substantially under control." Three firefighters were taken to Cheshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a news release from the city. Crews are still at the scene "as lingering flames and similar risks require attention," according to the release. Update 10:40 a.m., Eversource turned off the power on Elliot Street Thursday morning, affecting eight customers. The utility company was called to the scene at around 8:15 a.m. and turned off the power at the request of the Keene Fire Department around 9:50 a.m., spokesperson Olessa Stepanova said. Update 10:23 a.m. At least four first responders have been taken to the hospital from the scene of the fire on Elliot Street. Update 10:20 a.m. Monadnock Family Services is offering walk-in hours for anyone whose mental health has been affected by the fire. People can come to MFS offices at 40 Avon St. in Keene and ask to speak with someone. Update 9:40 a.m.: Wheelock Elementary School on Thursday morning is evacuating students and staff to Keene Middle School. Robb Malay, superintendent of SAU 29, said there is no imminent danger. "We're doing it to ensure the safety of all the students and the staff," he said. Parents can pick up the elementary school students from Keene Middle School at 11:30 a.m. on the Route 12 entrance of the middle school (with the "auditorium" sign) at 167 Maple Ave, he said. Malay added that parents shouldn't arrive before 11:30 a.m. For more information, parents can call 603-903-9933. Main Street is closed from Route 101 to the Main-Marlboro-Winchester streets roundabout is closed, according to Keene police. Update 9:27 a.m.: Wheelock School is being evacuated due to smoke concerns. Firefighters are continuing to evacuate nearby houses. Update 9:05 a.m.: People may notice sediment or discolored water Thursday morning as firefighters work to put out the fourth-alarm fire on Elliot Street, the city's public works director said. The sediment is mineral deposits within the system that are being disturbed because of a change in the flow of water, Public Works Director Don Lussier said. He added that the water is safe to drink, but advised customers to avoid doing laundry at this time because the discoloration can stain clothes. The water will return to normal once the fire is out, he said. ----------------------------------------------- A four-alarm fire on Elliot Street in Keene has drawn multiple agencies on Thursday morning. As of around 8:30 a.m., heavy smoke appeared to be billowing from a flaming house at a residential neighborhood across from Keene State College. Keene police are evacuating nearby houses on the street. This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
