NH Chief Heading to Work Spots Fire in Beach-Front Icon

On his way to work Hampton’s fire chief discovered a fire in an historic, and iconic, beach front building that would go to three alarms and cause injury to two of his firefighters.

According to a report published on a local news website, Seacoast Online, Chief Jameson Ayotte, was headed to work shortly before 8 a.m. when he noticed smoke coming from the roof of the Hampton Beach Casino, a 115-year old beach front building. The massive structure is iconic in NH and dominates much of the commercial portion in the heart of the beach.

The fire was largely confined to a portion of the building known as the Purple Urchin Cafe Restaurant which closed for the season about two weeks ago.

Ayotte said he initially thought it was steam from the roof after an early morning frost, but it wasn’t the news agency reported.  The fire station is just blocks from the building and the response was quick, the chief told Seacoast Online.

The fire went to three alarms and during the fire fight two firefighters suffered injuries, according to various news reports. The chief said on firefighter cut his finger and another suffered an ankle injury after falling down stairs.

The fire was contained largely to the restaurant area, but also did damage storage areas for the large concert hall ballroom in the building, the news agency reported. There was also smoke and water damage in other parts of the huge, multi-use building.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and the state’s fire marshal has been called in to help determine the cause of the blaze.