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After South Peak house fire, residents urge town to act on alternative firefighting water sources
Summary
Following a large structure fire at South Peak, residents and selectmen urged the town to revisit a prior 'big water' report and implement alternative water-access fixes including dry hydrants and river access rather than relying on shuttled water from neighboring towns.
Residents and selectmen used the meeting to press for faster implementation of alternative firefighting water sources after a recent structure fire at South Peak.
Committee members and the Chair commended mutual-aid responders and said the incident highlighted gaps in local water access for firefighting. Staff reminded the board of a previously commissioned 'big water' report that identified options such as dry hydrants, river access points and connections to snowmaking infrastructure. Several members urged the board to dust off that report, prepare an action plan and prioritize fixes rather than relying on shuttled water from neighboring towns during emergencies.
During public comment, resident Brian Crowley of Hemlock Drive said some flames reached 20 feet and called hydrant reliability on his street a top priority. The board directed staff to review the report and coordinate with the fire chief to identify near-term steps and timelines to improve alternative water access.
