Perched over the gable roof of a smoldering multi-family home on Hall Street, Concord firefighters used pick axes to peel back portions of the charred wood to check for hot spots underneath. 

Wedging the metal into the cracks, they pulled out melted insulation, shingling and gutters that rained down on debris already covering the walkways and grass surrounding the home. Other crew members inspected the interior of the home. 

Built in 1900, the home at 53 Hall Street, next to Nina’s Bistro & Sandwiches, caught fire Thursday morning around 9:45 a.m., displacing nine residents and three cats.

Everyone had evacuated the home prior to the arrival of the Concord Fire Department and surrounding agencies. Though no injuries were reported, one young resident required emergency services and a Concord firefighter suffered from heat exhaustion in temperatures exceeding 80 degrees. One of the cats pulled from the building appeared lethargic and was given oxygen, according to Concord Fire Chief John Chisholm. 

Across the street, firefighters from departments across the region stripped off their heavy equipment, wiped away sweat and guzzled water in the shade until directed back inside the home. Firefighters were told not to spend more than 30 minutes inside due to the increased risk of heat exhaustion. 

“The heat really does escalate it,” Chisholm said. “In heat like this, we’ll tell them to come out and rest for 20 minutes.”

Due to the conditions, Chisholm requested more departments than normal to respond to the scene to give firefighters a chance to recover between stints and have fresh crews ready in case of a flare-up, he said. After an hour, the first responders were sent back to the station to shower and clean their gear while their counterparts waited nearby and assisted with clean up. 

The three-unit apartment building with seven total bedrooms, is owned by Lancelot and Shaquilla Blake, who bought it for $435,000 two years ago. Built in 1900, the home and sold for as little at $100,000 in 2008 before it was renovated. 

The Concord Fire Department was assisted by Franklin, Chichester, Loudon, Epsom, Hopkinton, Allenstown, Hooksett and Manchester fire departments. The cause of the second-alarm fire remains under investigation, Chisholm said. 

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