Notable Events: Parker School (1974)

Chief Moise Mercier retired on December 31, 1973.  He had served 37 years.  In January 1974, a new Ward LaFrance Pumper was put into service.  It was a 1250 GPM pumper and replaced the 1941 Federal which was sold to Engine Company No. 1

The new truck would have pre-connected 1 1/2 inch and 2 ½ inch hose lines.  Cost of this vehicle was $39,500.

In March of  1974, Richard Navaroli of Hollis was appointed Chief of the Department.  He had been the Chief of Hollis Volunteer Fire Department.

A spectacular fire destroyed the Parker Hancock School on December 5, 1974.  Some time before 1:00 PM the Department was called to the school.

Grades 4, 5 and 6 were outside the building at the time, but the primary grades were still inside the building.  Evacuation of grades 1, 2 and 3 went off as practiced during fire drills.  No occupants of the school were injured.

The fire started in the basement and spread into partitions to the first and second floors and then into the attic space.  It took five hours to bring the fire under control.

Assistance was called from Laconia, Belmont, Tilton, Hill and East Andover.

In 1976, City Council voted $69,000 for the purchase of a new truck.  It would replace the Seagraves.  The new pumper was a Warner-Swazey with a 1250 GMP pump.  It had a hose reel capable of carrying 4 inch hose, which is attributable to a supply truck, not an attack truck as was planned.

The new piece had pre-connected lines, carried eight breathing apparatus and also had a pre-connected deck gun.

Chief Richard Navaroli resigned on January 29, 1978.  He would resume the duties of Fire Chief in Nashua.  Deputy Chief Norman Beauchemin would be appointed Chief in April.

Lightning struck the barn of Clarence Fife on South Main Street on August 9, 1979. In a matter of minutes, the barn, along with 40 calves, was destroyed.  It had been one of the original barns in the community, once part of the Daniel Webster Home for Children.

An important event took place in August 1980.  Franklin Fire Department became the first Fire Department in the state to have all of its permanent firefighters Nationally Registered EMT’s and N.H. State Certified Firefighters.

On July 22, 1981 an alarm of fire was received at 8:58 PM from Grevior Furniture Store on Central Street.  When the first unit arrived, flames were shooting high above the four story building.

The fire originated in an alley east of the building, in a pile of discarded cardboard boxes.

Though the “Sawyer Building”, built in 1887, had a brick façade on this front, the rear was made of wood.  It was against a wooden wall that the fire started.

Chief Norman Beauchemin called in a second alarm at 9:02, a third alarm at 9:55 PM and a forth alarm at 10:43 PM.  Firefighters and apparatus responded from Hill, Tilton-Northfield, Sanbornton, Andover, East Andover, Boscawen, Salisbury, Bristol and Alexandria.  Firefighters from Loudon, Concord, Laconia and Bow also assisted.

Interior fire tactics had to be terminated as the fire progressed and master streams had to be used.

At 11:40 PM, the roof and fourth floor collapsed onto the third floor.  Fortunately, all other floors held and the walls did not fall.

At 12:30 AM, Thursday morning, Chief Beauchemin radioed the “under control”.  However, it would be many long hours before the “all out” could be given.  Apparatus remained on the scene until 9:00 Pm Thursday, a full 24 hours after the start of the fire.

Damage was estimated at $500,000.  Sears Roebuck also occupied the street level in the building.  Their inventory was also destroyed.

This fire would be recorded as one of the largest in Franklin.  It was estimated that 125 firefighters were on the scene.

In July 1983, City Council voted $100,000 to purchase a new fire truck.  The new engine would replace the 10 year old Ward LaFrance which was rusting badly.  Repairs to the old engine would have been $28,500.

The new truck would have a Mack Chassis and a Grumman Body.  It would carry 600 gallons of water and could pump 1250 GPM.

This truck could take Franklin’s hills at 55 mph.

A new ambulance was purchased in 1984.  It was a Ford model van with a 460 engine, automatic transmission, standard tires and a boxier body style.

The Council, at a February meeting, voted to purchase a new Rescue-Pumper to replace the 1955 GMC.  The new unit would be on an International chassis.  This new truck would carry all rescue gear, would respond to all accidents, grass and brush fires and other calls requiring other than first line apparatus.

This truck was put into service on October 21, 1987.  The old Engine 2 it had replaced had been in service for 32 years.

Grevior Furniture and Sears Roebuck were struck again by fire on May 1, 1986.  Three alarms were struck for equipment and manpower.  About 100 Firefighters, many with breathing apparatus, from eleven communities battled the fire for 3 ½ hours.

There were no serious injuries but eight firefighters were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.

Shortly after the fire started, firefighters were forced out of the now two story building by heat and smoke.  A defensive battle had to be fought to keep the flames form spreading to Dan’s Pharmacy, directly adjacent to the Grevior building.  Firefighters poured up to 10,000 gallons of water per minute on the building.

Damage was very heavy, both to the structure and to the contents of both stores.

On November 22, 1986, fire struck at the corner of Franklin and West High Street.  A garage was well involved when Captain Arthur Starkweather called for a first alarm.

The garage was situated next to a 2 ½ story apartment house and a 1 ½ story single family home.

As the fire spread to both of these structures, Deputy Andrew Nadeau called for a second alarm.  Chief Norman Beauchemin would call for a third alarm, one hour into the fire.

Heavy damage was done to both houses and destroyed the garage.  Cause of the fire was attributed to a juvenile playing with matches.

Soon after, on Sunday November 30, 1986 at 3:13 PM, smoke was discovered in the halls of the apartment building over Griffin Drug Store and the Hallmark Shop.

Captain Arthur Starkweather responded and called a first alarm at 3:19 PM.

Entry was made into the drug store where smoke was seen at the ceiling.  The Drug Store and the cellar were searched but nothing was found.  Entry was then gained into the Hallmark Shop.  Captain Starkweather radioed that heavy smoke was present in the cellar, but no fire was located.  Heat and smoke continued to build in the card shop and on the second and third floors.

Fire was finally located coming from the boiler room area.  Entrance to the boiler room was difficult to locate.  A second point of attack was set up at the rear of the building.

A second alarm was sounded for manpower and breathing apparatus, as entry without such apparatus was impossible.

Lines from the rear where able to be brought into the boiler room and the fire was extinguished.

Two days later, Tuesday December 2, fire again was discovered in the card shop.  This fire was toned at 7:34 AM.  Deputy Andy Nadeau was first on the scene and was met y\by Mary Goodwin, who owned the shop and opened it up.

Entrance was made and heavy smoke filled the store.  Fire was coming form a hole in the floor that had been cut during overhaul on Sunday.  A first alarm was called at 7:42 AM.  Chief Norman Beauchemin called for a second alarm at 7:48 AM.  Set up would be as before, front and rear of the building.

The fire was quickly brought under control.  An unused chimney flue was blamed for the second fire.

Structural damage was listed as $10,000 for both fires.