Operations & Training

NH Chief's House Catches Fire: 'This Is a Personal Battle'

March 8, 2021

Firefighters from a dozen nearby departments responded to a two-alarm fire that broke out and seriously damaged the home of Kingston's fire chief.

Source Portsmouth Herald, N.H.

Crews from a dozen departments battled a two-alarm fire that broke out at the home of Kingston, NH, Fire Department's chief Sunday.

KINGSTON, NH—Firefighters from multiple communities battled a blaze that caused serious damage to the family home of Kingston Fire Chief Graham Pellerin on Sunday evening.

Firefighters were dispatched at 5:42 p.m. to a 9 Woodland Drive for a report of a structure fire, according to East Kingston Fire Chief Ed Warren, who served as the incident command.

Crews had heavy fire showing on arrival, and a second alarm response was requested. Firefighters were quickly aware that they were battling a fire at the home of their own fire chief, but Warren said the professionalism and training of the Kingston firefighters and their mutual aid partners quickly kicked in.

Warren, from nearby East Kingston, took command of scene to allow Pellerin to focus on his family and personal affairs. Pellerin, his wife, son and two dogs were all home at the time and all made it out safely without injury.

Warren praised the firefighters at the scene for their hard work.

"This is a personal battle," Warren said. " Chief Pellerin is family. We were fighting to save the home of one of our own tonight, and the firefighters performed admirably under difficult circumstances. What matters most is that Chief Pellerin and his family were not hurt."

The aggressive work of the firefighters, including numerous call and volunteer fire departments sending mutual aid, saved the home. The home will need extensive repairs, however, and the Pellerin family has made arrangements to stay with relatives at this time.

Fire crews from Kingston, East Kingston, Brentwood, Plaistow, Hampstead, Exeter, Epping, Danville, Newton, Raymond, Sandown, and Lee all responded on Sunday.

Fire associations, including the Seacoast Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association Inc. are in the early phases of an effort to raise funds to support the Pellerin family during this difficult time. Additional details will be announced as soon as they are available.

The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation.

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