Fire Damages Downtown Dover Restaurant The Shanty Family Tavern

Two minutes after receiving a 911 call, Dover Fire and Rescue arrived at 471 Central Ave to find The Shanty Family Tavern engulfed in flames.

A witness noticed smoke exuding from multiple areas of the restaurant and alerted the fire department at 11:34 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, according to a press release from the city of Dover.

The first company on duty discovered columns of smoke originating from the rear of the building, the city stated, and the storefront windows facing Central Ave were already coated with soot and radiating heat.

The decision was made to enter through the front doors, where they discovered a fire that had been raging for quite some time

Crews battled the flames for an hour before it was elevated to second alarm.

The towns of Durham, Lee, Newington, Portsmouth, Rochester, Rollinsford, and Somersworth came to the aid of Dover firefighters, when it was discovered that remnants of the fire still burned behind the walls and ceiling, according to the release. The rescue teams remained at the scene until 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Dover Fire Chief Paul Haas has praised the first arriving crew and credits their expertise for containing the fire before it spread to nearby buildings.

The Dover Fire Investigation Team, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office, has listed the cause of fire as currently unknown.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

The restaurant, which had recently undergone a lengthy and extensive renovation, was badly damaged in the fire.