A New Hampshire house explosion claimed the life of a grandmother and injured its 11-year-old granddaughter during a spring snowstorm.
According to Derry Fire Chief Shawn Haggart, the department received alerts regarding an explosion, prompting an immediate response.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a residence ablaze. Tragically, one individual within the house succumbed to the fire, while a female juvenile sustained injuries requiring hospitalization.
New Hampshire House Explosion
In Derry, New Hampshire, a tragedy struck as a grandmother lost her life and her 11-year-old granddaughter sustained injuries following a devastating house explosion on Goodhue Road.
The incident unfolded around 11:40 a.m., prompting swift responses from firefighters, who were met with a scene engulfed in heavy flames upon arrival.
Amidst the chaos, the young granddaughter managed to flee the engulfed home, but not without sustaining burns that required urgent medical attention.
She was swiftly transported to a hospital in Boston for treatment. One neighbor, Gina Lebrun, acted as a guardian angel during the ordeal, rushing to aid the child and even accompanying her in the ambulance to provide comfort and support.
Gina recounted the harrowing experience, expressing the palpable fear and distress exhibited by the traumatized child. "You could tell the little girl was scared, and rightfully so," Gina shared.
"The little girl kept saying her grandma was in the house, so we went over to the property, yelling for grandma and then came back up, and I got mom on the phone with the little girl and went to the hospital with her."
Fire officials, led by Chief David Haggart, are diligently investigating the cause behind the tragic incident.
Initial findings from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office point towards a potential storm-related factor, with a tree suspected to have fallen on the house near propane tanks situated outside.
Chief Haggart noted an increase in storm-related incidents, with numerous calls reporting fallen tree branches and downed wires due to strong winds wreaking havoc in the area.
An Explosion Felt By the Neighborhood
Residents in the vicinity were startled by the sudden explosion, with many recounting how they heard a loud noise and felt their homes shake.
"We heard a big loud noise, and the house shook, and we thought a tree fell on the house and we did some quick recon outside then we saw a lot of police cars jetting down the street," shared neighbor Michael Kelly. "It's extremely sad. It hits home. I have family that's close and I have a little guy out the window right now, so definitely hold your loved ones tonight."
New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey assured that neighboring homes were not at risk, stating, "There is propane at that house, we've identified that as the only gas that's there."
Firefighters faced challenges due to weather conditions, prolonging their efforts to extinguish the fire as they battled hotspots well into Thursday afternoon.
Chief Shawn Haggard of the Derry Fire Department urged the community to keep the affected family and firefighters in their thoughts during this trying time.
The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire remains under investigation, with Toomey emphasizing the importance of understanding and preventing such tragedies.
Despite ongoing power outages from the storm, the community has rallied together to support the affected family through fundraising initiatives, highlighting their resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.
