Family loses home to fire on New Year’s Day

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:34:00 GMT

BY NICHOLAS BROWN

A Candia family is displaced after a new year’s morning fire destroyed a home that’s been in the family for generations.

Elliot and Harriet Hardy, along with their son Elliot, were unhurt during the blaze. Firefighters found the family huddled inside a parked vehicle near the Chester Turnpike home shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.

Candia Fire Chief Rudy Cartier said the fire likely began in the home’s attic, and came from the chimney leading from a downstairs wood-burning stove. In the home’s upper level, said Cartier, “there was a lot of open wood to really get it going.”

Cartier responded to the scene six minutes after the call, and the Candia fire engine was on the scene in about 10 minutes, Cartier said. Sixteen Candia firefighters turned out early on new year’s morning to battle the blaze.

“That’s very good for a volunteer fire department on a holiday weekend,” Cartier said.

Candia firefighters were assisted by crews from Hooksett, Auburn, Raymond, Chester, Deerfield, Epping and Derry. Two Candia firefighters were sent to the hospital after being hit by large pieces of falling debris, but were soon released, Cartier said.

The Hardy family stayed with their son Mark, who lives nearby on Chester Turnpike, immediately after the fire. The family has since been in a local hotel, Hardy said, and may soon move to another piece of family property in Candia.

“The family is not physically injured,” said Mark Hardy. “(The home) has been in the family for multiple generations, so they’re certainly feeling the loss.”

The family cat, Abbey, was thought lost in the blaze, but later turned up, largely unharmed.

“Abbey the Phoenix, who rises from the ashes,” said Mark Hardy. “I don’t know how many lives she used up.”

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Family loses home to fire on New Year’s Day