01/24/2020 - HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - Just before 1330 hours on the afternoon of Friday, January 24, 2020 the Hanover Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 175 Winter Street. Companies arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the side of a one-story 100' x 120' wooden warehouse. Several exposure buildings were also being impinged upon by fire. Several propane tanks outside the building were involved in fire. Firefighters focused their efforts on cooling the tanks to prevent them from exploding. First hand lines stretched were used to keep the fire from involving anymore of the tanks. While companies focused on the propane tanks, the fire rapidly spread throughout the building, and to exposures. Companies not only battled rapidly deteriorating fire conditions, but pump operators found problems getting water, experiencing low pressure from nearby hydrants. Hanson's engine found a frozen hydrant on Winter Street that they were not able to access. Incoming engines unloaded several thousand feet of 4" supply line to access additional hydrants nearby. A run down of apparatus and alarms; Second alarm was struck at 1337 hours bringing Rockland Ladder-1, Hanson Engine-3, Hanson Chief, Marshfield Paramedic-5 and Department of Fire Services Rehab Unit. A special call for Norwell Engine-3 to the scene at 1349 hours. A third alarm was struck at 1358 hours bringing Whitman Engine-243, Pembroke Engine-6, and the East Bridgewater Air Supply Unit to the scene. At 1402 hours, a special call for Abington Tower-1. At 1407 hours, a Tier-1 hazardous materials response was requested for air quality monitoring. A fourth alarm was transmitted at 1443 hours bringing Hingham Engine-3 and Halifax Engine-1 to the scene. Finally, the fifth alarm was struck at 1453 hours bringing Weymouth Engine-5, Marshfield Engine-3 to the scene and Brockton Engine-4 and Scituate Engine-3 to a cover assignment at Hanover's Fire Headquarters. Some additional special agencies and units that responded to the scene include the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Pilgrim Propane, Providence Canteen, American Red Cross, and Salvation Army. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hanover Fire and Police Joint Fire Investigation Unit along with Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal's Office. No firefighters were reported injured during the incident. Initial damage estimates were made at $400,000. Firefighters remained on-scene throughout the night working to extinguish the blaze. Shortly after 1100 hours on the following day, nearly 24-hours after the initial alarm, firefighters finally cleared the scene.
