Middletown Firefighters Put Out Back-to-Back Fires

The quickly put out two back-to-back fires Thursday night, both minor with no injuries and minimal property damages reported.

Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening, the responded to a pile of mulch on fire on theproperty line between the at 23 Rockwood Road and the at 553 West Main Road. Upon arrival, Middletown firefighters from Car 2, and Engines 37 and 1 found the fire had spread to an adjacent stockade fence. Firefighter crews extinguished the fire quickly, reported Middletown Fire Marshal Adam Westman who was on scene.

Shortly after Engines 1 and 37 returned to the Middletown Fire Station, around 6:30 p.m. they were again dispatched along with Ladder 39 and Car 2 to a chimney fire at 82 Warren Avenue after receiving a 911 emergency call.

The fire crew found light smoke inside the house, said Westman who noted, “The exterior wood stove flue pipe was glowing cherry red."

The firefighters extinguished the fire in the chimney and ventilated the structure in less than one hour, he said.

Westman determined both fires to be accidental.

In the chimney fire, Westman determined the cause due to a buildup of creosil, a flammable gummy fume byproduct that can collect inside the flue pipe from frequent use.

In the case of the mulch fire, Westman said the fire erupted either from spontaneous combustion or a carelessly disposed cigarette.

Mulch fires are not uncommon, due to the build up of fumes and heat from being packed tight, said Westman. New mulch had just been delivered one day earlier, he noted.

“It gets hotter and hotter. You get a little wind and spontaneous combustion can happen, or if someone was too careless with their cigarette nearby,” he said.

Both fires occurred at the time of shift change, so the Fire Department had adequate personnel immediately available to address both incidents, according to Westman.

During the second chimney fire, the Newport Navy Base Fire Department provided assistance by covering the Middletown Fire Station, while the Portsmouth Fire Department also sent Car 1 to the scene for assistance.