Fire guts auto repair shop in Loudon

A massive fire tore through an auto repair shop in Loudon on Monday morning, leaving it completely destroyed.

At around 9:40 a.m., the Loudon Fire Department was called to a fire at Stash’s Service Center & Body Shop on 367 Bee Hole Road. 

Deputy Fire Chief William Lake said by the time firefighters arrived, the building was fully engulfed in flames, sending thick black smoke visible from a distance.

As a garage, the building contained a large amount of flammable and combustible materials like oxygen and acetylene tanks for cutting, torches, paint cans, oils and more.

“They had a lot of flammables, just a lot of stuff that burns very easily and very readily,” said Lake. “It made the fire pretty intense, pretty quick.”

The fire was brought under control within a little over an hour, but what was left was a blackened shell of a building that was barely recognizable.

Two people were inside the garage when the fire broke out, but neither was injured, Lake said.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. The Loudon Fire Department has called in the State Fire Marshal’s office to assist with the investigation.

Fire crews remained on site until 5:45 p.m. while an excavator was used to pull apart the piled debris — including the metal roof.

Lake said firefighters had to continuously douse hot spots for hours to prevent reignition. 

Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Allenstown, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Epsom, Pembroke and Pittsfield. Meanwhile, the Belmont Fire Department covered Loudon’s stations during the incident.

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