Hanover Fire Department Responds to Structure Fire 4/11/23

On April 11, 2023, at approximately 1:53 am, a 911 call from a passerby reported a structure fire in the area of Whiting Street and North Street, later to be determined at 479 Whiting Street. A full first alarm assignment was dispatched consisting of Hanover Engine 7, Engine 4, Engine 3, Tower 1, and Ambulance 1, along with C1, C2, and C3. Upon arrival, a large workshop attached to a barn-style structure converted to a residence was fully involved. Heavy smoke and fire spread rapidly to the barn and threatened the main house located five feet away. A Working Fire Assignment was requested, bringing mutual aid assistance to the scene. 

The first arriving crews made an aggressive attack with multiple large hand lines and were able to start making progress toward confinement and extinguishment. Once progress was made, crews began interior operations on all three structure floors. A second and subsequent third alarm was requested, bringing additional mutual aid assistance to the scene and to provide coverage in Town during the incident. The quick work by first arriving crews and the efforts of mutual aid crews prevented the fire from spreading to the remainder of the large barn structure and adjacent main house.

A single occupant of the large barn structure was asleep when the fire started. The quick action of Hanover Police Officers, who arrived shortly before fire crews, resulted in that resident escaping unharmed. Officers were able to gain access to the interior residential portion of the barn, which was fully charged with smoke, and provided the opportunity for the occupant to follow their voices to safety. 

Mutual aid engines from Rockland, Norwell, Hanson, Pembroke, Abington, and Whitman, along with a Hingham tower ladder and ambulances from Marshfield and South Shore Hospital assisted Hanover firefighters on-scene. Engines from Duxbury and Pembroke provided station coverage during the incident. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Rehab Unit and the Boston Sparks A-10 also provided assistance on-scene. Additional support from the Hanover Police Department, Hanover Department of Municipal Inspections, Hanover Department of Public Works, and National Grid was also provided. Staff from the Regional Old Colony Communications Center worked during the incident to field additional 911 calls, provide communications to on-scene operations and coordinate mutual aid resources.

One firefighter was injured during the incident and was treated on-scene. The occupant was evaluated by EMS on-scene and did not require additional treatment.

The fire is being investigated by the Hanover Fire and Police Joint Fire Investigation Unit with assistance from State Troopers assigned to the State Fire Marshals Office.

Initial damage estimates are approximately $600,000.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 6:25 am.