A tractor-trailer fire Thursday morning destroyed the vehicle and closed part of Peterborough Street.

According to Jaffrey Fire Chief David Chamberlain, the department got a call at about 6:03 a.m. for a truck fire across the street from Rite Aid. When Assistant Chief Keith Dupuis arrived, the tractor portion was fully in flames. The trailer portion, which was not being used for hauling, was not on fire.

Chamberlain said the driver and a bystander tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher before calling the Fire Department, and Dupuis requested mutual aid from Peterborough. Once firefighters arrived, it took 20 to 30 minutes to extinguish the fire. The street was closed for a time, but has reopened, and Chamberlain said the state Department of Transportation helped detour drivers.

No one was injured. Chamberlain said the truck was a total loss, but the trailer was not damaged and was towed away.  The fire is not considered suspicious, Chamberlain said, and investigators are looking into mechanical issues possibly being the cause because the driver reported the vehicle running rough and smoke coming out from under the hood.

Chimney fire causes significant damage

A chimney fire on Sand Hill Road in Peterborough led to significant damage to a home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“This was not the type of fire you see on the news with flames consuming a home. It was mostly just overhaul, and the fire was limited to the partition and ceiling areas, but there was still considerable damage to the house,” said Peterborough Fire Chief Ed Walker. 

At 2:17 a.m. on Sunday, Peterborough Fire & Rescue responded to Sand Hill Road for an automatic fire alarm. Upon responding, the department determined there was a chimney fire at the residence, the that the fire was extending into the walls.  The call was upgraded to a first alarm.

According to Peterborough Fire & Rescue, the first unit arrived at 2:28 a.m. and found a fire in the first-floor wall. At that time, a second alarm was requested. Peterborough Fire & Rescue stated that the fire “is considered accidental, with the area of origin around the metal chimney from the wood stove,” and that the fire caused significant damage around the wood stove and stove pipe extending into the kitchen.

The fire was brought under control in about 90 minutes, and crews continued to overhaul the fire for an additional two hours.

“This incident really speaks to the importance of our mutual aid agreement and the ability to get the help we need when there is a fire. There is not one town around here that could have responded to this fire on their own,” Walker said. 

Peterborough crews were assisted on scene by the Peterborough Police Department and fire crews from Antrim, Francestown, Jaffrey, Greenfield, Hancock, Milford and Southwestern NH Mutual Aid. Additional crews from Bennington, Keene and Temple covered the Peterborough station.

Peterborough Fire & Rescue would like to remind people to have working smoke detectors and have all wood burning appliances cleaned and inspected. For information, contact Walker at ewalker@peterboroughnh.gov, or 603-784-5601. 

Jesseca Timmons contributed to this story.