One Dead, One Injured in Historic Deering House Fire

DEERING, N.H. — One person died and another was hospitalized after a late-night house fire engulfed a historic home on Hart Farm Road in Deering on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. The fire, reported at 9:19 p.m., trapped two individuals inside the 18th-century structure, which neighbors described as old and in disrepair.

Deering Fire and Rescue responded to the scene alongside crews from 10 surrounding towns. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames and smoke. A New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit later located one victim deceased inside the home. The victim’s identity has not been released pending an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

A second individual, trapped on the second floor, was rescued by a neighbor and transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The man was later transferred to a Boston-area hospital for further treatment.

Firefighters battled the blaze for over two hours, bringing it under control by 11:46 p.m. Neighbors credited the swift response of emergency crews and the presence of snow on the ground for preventing the fire from spreading further. “Our firefighters are true heroes in times like these,” said Heather, a local resident who witnessed the incident.

The home, built in the 1700s, was described as highly flammable due to its age and condition. Investigators from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and Deering Fire & Rescue are working to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or [email protected].

An autopsy is scheduled to confirm the identity of the deceased and determine the cause and manner of death. The community remains in shock as they mourn the loss and support the injured survivor.