Fatal Fire Reported in Claremont

UPDATE: Claremont, NH – New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul J. Parisi, Claremont Fire Chief Bryan Burr and Claremont Police Chief Mark Chase announce that the victim of the fire at 21 Dennison Ave. in Claremont on April 2, 2020, has been identified.

The NH Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim as 58 year old Francis Viola Jr. of Claremont, NH, and has ruled the cause of death to be accidental due to thermal and inhalation injuries.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time but it appears to have started in the kitchen area of the mobile home. 

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CLAREMONT, NH—– New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Paul J. Parisi, Claremont Fire Chief Bryan Burr and Claremont Police Chief Mark Chase announce that the Claremont Fire and Police Departments were called to 21 Dennison Dr. in Claremont on April 2, at approximately 4:11 AM, for a reported structure fire.
Upon arrival, a mobile home was found to be heavily involved in fire. After the fire was extinguished, a deceased male victim was located inside the structure. There were no other injuries.
Also assisting with mutual aid response to this incident were fire departments from Newport, Cornish and Ascutney, Vermont.
Positive identification of the victim and cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy that will take place at the NH State Medical Examiner’s Office in Concord, NH, later today.
The investigation into the Origin & Cause of the fire is active and ongoing by members of the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Claremont Fire and Police Departments.
State Fire Marshal Parisi would like to remind all citizens of the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home. In the event of a fire, immediately exit your home and call 9-1-1. Keep exits clear of debris and have a home fire escape plan.
The City of Claremont Fire Department has a residential smoke alarm program to install at no charge alarms in owner occupied residential homes within the city. Please contact the fire prevention bureau at 542-7012 to make arrangements.