Rye, New Hampshire fire breaks out at home under construction

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An investigation is underway in Rye after a fire destroyed two homes and sent three people to a hospital.

Crews were dispatched to the area of 1505 Ocean Boulevard just before 1:30 a.m. for a report of a home on fire.

The home was under construction and the new owners had not moved in yet.

There was a north wind that pushed the fire to the home next door, where three adults were inside. They were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with minor injuries. They were treated and later released.

This is the second time this year they have had to evacuate because of a fire after their other neighbors’ home burned down earlier this year during a storm.

As of noon, crews are waiting for an excavating crew to come turn over the ground debris fire crews cannot get to safely and they are waiting for the underground propane tank to vent. This needs to be done before crews can open the road back up.

“It's going to vent at a whatever rate it's venting at, but it's not very fast. The tank was feeling full, so it could take the better part of today. Or we could be here tomorrow. We really don't know, but we'll be here until that,” Rye Fire Chief Mark Cotreau said.

Eversource crews were at the scene most of the morning working to restore power to the 120 customers who lost it. All lights are back on, but the fire damaged one of their utility poles, which will be repaired Tuesday night after the election polls close.

Cotreau said the investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing and could take some time. The fire marshal’s office also responded to the scene.

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