A fast-moving house fire on Foxberry Drive in New Boston on Saturday evening sent a firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries and left at least five people without a home, as dozens of mutual-aid crews swarmed the quiet street. Heavy smoke poured from the structure while neighbors captured the blaze on their phones, and firefighters battled not just flames but winter itself. Cold temperatures, deep snow and a narrow driveway all combined to make the operation far more complicated. Authorities said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Souhegan Valley Fire Mutual Aid coordinator Rick Todd told reporters that crews were first called to the home around 5:41 p.m., and that he struck a third alarm to bring in extra resources. Officials said roughly 13 to 14 departments and more than 50 firefighters responded to Foxberry Drive, and that none of the residents were hurt. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and several people were displaced by the blaze. As reported by WMUR, investigators are treating the cause as under review.
A video posted by CBS Boston from the scene showed just how intense the fire became and noted that initial accounts of injuries varied, with the station reporting that the New Boston fire chief and another firefighter were hurt. Viewers also shared photos and clips of the house engulfed in flames. Responding departments included Merrimack, Henniker, Manchester and Milford, while dispatchers and incident commanders juggled apparatus placement and water supply into the night.
Icy Conditions Slowed The Response
Mutual-aid officials said the firefight was complicated by recent snowfall, narrow access to the property and freezing temperatures. Crews found themselves battling the elements as much as the fire itself. "We did have some icing as well as manipulating hose line thru two feet of snow," Todd said, describing the extra effort required as firefighters stretched hose lines and moved pump units. Officials said those conditions meant longer hose lays and the need for more personnel just to manage equipment safely. WMUR carried Todd's comments from the scene.
How Mutual Aid Works In The Souhegan Valley
Smaller towns in this part of New Hampshire depend on a tightly coordinated mutual-aid system that lets neighboring departments share apparatus and trained crews when a fire grows beyond what a single town can handle. The Souhegan Mutual Aid agreement, as described by the Mont Vernon Fire Department, centralizes specialized resources so rural departments can request tankers, engines or technical teams as needed. That arrangement brought engines and tankers from nearby communities to Foxberry Drive once the alarm level was upgraded.
Investigators are expected to examine the scene to determine what started the blaze, and officials urged residents to stay away from the area while crews finish their work. New Boston leaders had not released additional details about the injured firefighter's condition or about any plans to support displaced households at the time of the reports. Local authorities said they will provide updates when more information becomes available.
