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New Hampshire family alerted to house fire by home security camera

“Had it not been for the home security camera picking it up, things could’ve been more tragic."

By Arianna MacNeill

December 16, 2021

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When a fire began in a New Hampshire home late Tuesday night, it was one of the home’s security cameras that alerted the homeowner, who was an hour away, to the blaze.

Firefighters responded to 6 Faith Road in Windham around 11:55 p.m. to a report of a fire. On scene, police helped with evacuating residents and reported there was smoke, according to the Windham Fire Department.

Inside the home, firefighters found “moderate smoke conditions with visible fire from a wall in the living room,” according to the department.

The fire, which hadn’t gone beyond the room, was quickly put out.

Fire Chief Thomas McPherson spoke with one of the occupants, who said she and her three young children — plus the family dog — were asleep in the home when the fire began. Her husband, who works late in Danvers, received alerts on his phone from a home security system, the department said. When he checked the alerts, he saw the fire in the living room. He tried calling home, but when he got no answer, he called 911.

McPherson told Boston.com it was “kind of ironic” that it was the home security camera that alerted the homeowner.

“There were smoke detectors that did not sound,” he said. “That was concerning for us.”

The family recently moved in and didn’t know the smoke detectors weren’t working, the chief said.

“Had it not been for the home security camera picking it up, things could’ve been more tragic,” McPherson said.

The family was able to stay in the home.