16 residents from nine apartments were displaced and a pizza restaurant was extensively damaged in a fire in Exeter early Monday morning.

Residents were leaving an apartment house as firefighters arrived at the fire in an alleyway between two buildings on Front Street around 2:50 a.m., according to Exeter Fire Chief Eric Wilking.

As the fire spread to an adjacent business and apartment house off duty members were called to the scene and a second alarm to bring additional help.

Fire on Front Street in Exeter 12/6/21
Fire on Front Street in Exeter 12/6/21 (East Kingston Fire Dept.)
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A search by firefighters found all residents were accounted for, according to the chief, who said the fire was brought under control by 4:30 a.m.

Two apartments and Supreme Pizza suffered the most damage in the fire, according to Wilking.

Supreme Pizza on its Facebook page said it will be closed until further notice.

The fire is being investigated by the Exeter Fire Department and the NH Fire Marshalls Office.

Mutual aid was proved by Newmarket, North Hampton, Hampton, Durham, Newfield’s, East Kingston, Kingston, Kensington, Brentwood, Hampton Falls, Portsmouth and Seabrook.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

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