5 Acres of Marjory Swope Park Torched by Brush Fire

UPDATE, 6:45 p.m. Chief Andrus issued the following statement: 

A three alarm brush fire burned approximately five acres near Marjorie Swope Park in Concord on Tuesday afternoon. Fire dispatchers started receiving reports of a fire in the hilly area at 1:47 p.m. Responding crews were challenged in locating the fire in the difficult terrain near the park. A second alarm was sounded at 2:43 p.m. and a third alarm brought additional units and personnel at 3:25 p.m. All of Concord’s off duty fire fighters were called back to duty. Allenstown, Boscawen, Bow, Hopkinton, Loudon, and Pembroke provided forestry units and personnel at the scene and coverage for Concord’s stations. The fire was largely knocked down as nightfall approached, but crews will return in the morning to assure that any hot spots are extinguished. The fire’s cause has not been determined.

UPDATE, 3:24 p.m. Concord Fire Chief Dan Andrus has just pushed the brush fire in West Concord to three alarms. Dispatch is calling in three more forestry units from Boscawen, Hopkinton, and Loudon to the scene. Other units are covering Concord stations while fire teams are working the blaze. 

The first post is below: 

Concord Fire and Rescue teams are fighting a brush fire in West Concord, attempting to contain the blaze that is taking place on conservation land just east of the city’s border with Hopkinton.

At a little past 2 p.m., a caller tipped off firefighters to smoke coming from the woods and firefighters headed to the scene attempting to locate the fire.

Around 2:15 p.m., smoke could be seen from Hopkinton Road, as firefighters entered the woods from both District 5 Road near Ross View Farm and Long Pond Road near Marjory Swope Park, attempting to find the fire. 

A command was set up near Penacook Lake at Little Pond Road.

At 2:40 p.m., the fire went to two alarms, with Concord Fire calling in Bow, Allenstown, Hopkinton, and Pembroke to assist with mutual aid, covering the city.

Four to five acres are burning at this time, according to dispatch.

ATVs are being called in to help firefighters access the areas that are burning. 

Concord NH Patch will update this post as more information becomes available.