A house fire at 21 Spruce Court in Seabrook has left one resident dead at the scene and another victim transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment.

According to a press release from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, an emergency call was made on Wednesday, March 10, by a neighbor who reported that the home was on fire at 10:16 p.m. Seabrook fire and police units were then dispatched to the location.

The first to arrive was Officer David Hersey of the Seabrook Police Department, who made the brave decision to go inside the burning building to see if anyone was there, a Facebook post from Teamsters Local 633 stated.

Jeffrey Hastings
Jeffrey Hastings
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Despite the flames coming from the house, Hersey went in and found one resident, who he then worked to try and get back outside, the post stated.

But with the door closed behind him, he couldn't see and "used his feet to guide himself along the wall to the door," according to the Teamsters Local 633.

Luckily, Officer Anthony Robinson arrived shortly after and was able to force open the door, which allowed Hersey and the victim to get out of the building, the post noted.

A second occupant who had been unable to escape was later discovered after the fire was extinguished, the press release from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety stated.

The incident is under investigation by both Seabrook Police Department and the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office. An autopsy was performed on the victim Thursday, which declared the cause of death to be smoke inhalation. The manner of death is listed as accidental.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been announced.

Hersey was taken to Portsmouth Hospital for evaluation and was released after treatment, according to the Teamsters Facebook post.

In the press release, State Fire Marshal Paul J. Parisi stated the importance of residential smoke alarm maintenance. He also recommended annual inspections of heating systems and maintaining a minimum three foot clearance of all heating appliances and combustible materials.

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