Firefighters Battle 3-Alarm Blaze at N.H. Sig Sauer Facility
What to Know
- A three-alarm fire heavily damaged a Sig Sauer manufacturing facility in Epping on Saturday morning, causing a large mutual-aid response from surrounding fire departments.
- Firefighters initially launched an interior attack but temporarily shifted to defensive operations because of the volume of fire and limited access inside the large metal-clad building before eventually bringing the blaze under control.
- A firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated and released, while state fire investigators are examining the cause and said the fire does not appear suspicious.
A three-alarm fire tore through the Sig Sauer facility on Exeter Road in Epping Saturday morning, injuring one firefighter and drawing a large mutual aid response from surrounding communities, Epping Fire officials said.
Epping Fire was dispatched to Sig Sauer at 233 Exeter Road at about 10:42 a.m. for a fire alarm. Automatic mutual aid was sent from the Brentwood and Lee fire departments.
The first-arriving engine reported smoke showing from a roughly 200-by-100-foot, two-story commercial building. Firefighters entered through a side door and began an interior attack.
Due to the volume of fire, a second alarm was requested. Crews had trouble reaching other areas of the structure, prompting firefighters to pull back from the interior attack temporarily and shift to defensive operations while additional companies arrived and a water supply was established.
As crews gained access to more of the building and additional companies arrived, they re-established an interior attack. According to Epping Fire, multiple openings had to be cut into the metal-clad building because of limited windows and access. Four handlines operated inside the structure simultaneously, with crews rotating through the building. A third alarm was requested for additional personnel.
Firefighters conducted primary and secondary searches, confirming no civilians remained inside. The fire was declared under control at about 12:07 p.m. Crews remained at the scene for an extended period conducting overhaul operations.
One firefighter was taken to Exeter Hospital with minor injuries, treated and released.
Route 27 was closed during the response, from its intersection with North Road in Brentwood to its intersection with Route 125 in Epping.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office was notified and is investigating. Epping Fire said the fire does not appear suspicious at this time. An Epping crew remained at the scene with the fire marshal's office, and all personnel cleared the scene at about 3:07 p.m.
Departments and agencies that responded included Epping, Exeter, Kingston, Brentwood, Lee, East Kingston, Newfields, Newmarket, Durham, McGregor Ambulance, Stratham, Raymond, Candia, Sandown, Rye, Chester, Fremont and Nottingham.
The blaze was the second fire at a Sig Sauer facility in New Hampshire this year. On July 27, an explosion involving stored titanium at the company's Exeter plant on Industrial Drive seriously injured an employee, who suffered burn injuries and was flown by helicopter to a Boston-area hospital, according to New Hampshire Public Radio. Exeter fire officials said at the time that they were continuing to investigate the cause of that incident.
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