2 alarm fire empties Northfield apartment building on Monday night

NORTHFIELD — Fire and police as well as the New Hampshire Fire Marshal remained on the scene yesterday of a two-alarm fire that sent smoke throughout an eight-unit apartment building Monday night at 10 Dearborn Street.

Tilton-Northfield Fire Chief Brad Ober said the fire was reported at 7:41 p.m. and were told there was fire in the basement and the laundry room.

Firefighters from Franklin joined Tilton-Northfield and soon realized that the fire had extended into a first floor bedroom through a pipe chase.

"The basement had a partial sprinkler system in the laundry and boiler rooms," Ober said. "Although the sprinklers did not extinguish the fire it did help to contain it."

Eight families were displaced and the building management worked with them to find temporary housing. Ober said the apartment building was not a total loss and could be rehabilitated.

Tilton-Northfield firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Sanbornton, Belmont, Laconia and Gilford. Belmont and Concord provided station coverage. Tilton, Northfield and N.H. State Police assisted with traffic.

CAPTION (Northfield Fire 02) Piles of debris from a two-alarm fire Monday night are stacked up outside the eight-unit complex Tuesday morning. Local and state fire officials remained there yesterday morning to determine the cause of the fire. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Ober)