Jan. 8—More than 60 firefighters and personnel from 16 towns battled two large brush fires near Interstate 93 in Derry and Windham amid 8-degree wind chills Wednesday afternoon.
A three-alarm fire along Fordway Extension and near the Derry Rail Trail was reported just before 1 p.m. A second brush fire was reported shortly afterward east of I-93 in Windham between Exits 3 and 4.
The Derry fire was contained by 2:45 p.m. and the Windham blaze was under control by 3:09 p.m., Derry Fire Department officials said.
The fast-moving blazes were driven by high winds and exacerbated by severely dry conditions after an extended moderate drought dating back to the summer, fire officials said. The combination of dry leaves and fallen branches fueled the rapid spread of the fire, which prompted the closure of two northbound lanes on I-93.
With nearby ponds frozen during the 24-degree weather, fire crews were forced to shuttle water in via the paved rail trail, which is wide enough for vehicles. A fire hydrant near the corner of Bowers Road and Fordway Extension provided a water source for the crews in Derry.
A command post with sufficient parking for the large fire trucks and support vehicles was set up between 26 and 28 Bowers Road near the crossing for the Derry Rail Trail. Fire trucks were also positioned on I-93 so crews could attack the blaze from all sides.
No one was injured.
Firefighters had not fully extinguished the fires by 3 p.m., but the heavy smoke had dissipated near I-93 by that time and traffic was once again flowing as usual for the evening commute.
Fordway Extension was closed from Bowers Road to Montgomery Farm Road for several hours.
Derry crews were assisted by firefighters from Atkinson, Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Hampstead, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Pelham, Raymond, Salem, Sandown, Plaistow and Hooksett. The New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office, Southeastern New Hampshire Regional Hazardous Materials Mutual Aid Team, State Police, Department of Transportation, Derry Police and AMR also assisted.
Derry’s Department of Public Works spread sand and salt near the hydrant on Fordway Extension so ice would not create dangerous driving conditions.
Derry Fire Marshal David Eastman determined that the fire started in an area under construction, but the incident is not suspicious.
The causes of the fires remain under investigation.
dpierce@unionleader.com