Hanover Fire Department Press Release 7/8/20

On July 8, 2020, at 2:07 am, the Hanover Fire Department received a call reporting smoke in the area of Columbia Road and Rockland Street with a possible outside fire in the rear of a commercial occupancy. Engine 7, Tower 1, and Ambulance 3 responded to investigate. While enroute, Hanover Police Officers arrived and reported a possible outside equipment fire at 183 Columbia Road with smoke in the building. Box 42 was transmitted and a full 1st Alarm Assignment was dispatched. First arriving crews found thick black smoke coming from the front of an 85 x 50 two story commercial office building with heavy fire conditions in the rear. Firefighters were unable to make an interior attack and were forced to initiate a defensive and exterior operation as heavy fire rapidly traveled throughout the structure.

Three alarms were necessary to bring the fire under control. Mutual aid assistance from Rockland, Norwell, Pembroke, Hanson, Hingham, Abington, Whitman, Marshfield, Duxbury and South Shore Hospital EMS responded to the incident scene. Support units from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and the Providence Canteen also responded to the incident. The Hanover Police and Public Works Departments also assisted on scene. The Hanover Emergency Communications Center coordinated incident communications and requests for mutual aid.

Officials from the Hanover Building Department determined that the remaining structure was unsafe and had to be taken down in the interest of public safety.

The fire remains under investigation by the Hanover Fire and Police Joint Fire Investigation Unit along with the Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

One firefighter who sustained minor injuries during the incident was evaluated and treated on-scene.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 1:36 pm.