Fire at Keene Transfer Station Draws Large Multi-Agency Response

Emergency crews were dispatched to 55 Old Summit Road shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a fire inside the transfer station building, according to a news release from the Keene Fire Department. The first fire officer arrived within minutes and encountered heavy flames coming from the front portion of the facility.

Crews immediately launched an interior attack while other firefighters searched connected sections of the industrial complex to ensure no one remained inside, the release said. As conditions at the scene became clearer, additional resources from Keene and neighboring departments were requested.

Because the transfer station is located outside the municipal water system, firefighters relied on a tanker shuttle operation to maintain a steady water supply. Tankers transported water from remote fill sites to support suppression efforts.

After the main body of fire was extinguished, firefighters worked alongside heavy equipment operators who used excavators and loaders to remove and spread debris from inside the building. The process allowed crews to reach hidden pockets of fire and extinguish lingering hot spots.

The fire was declared under control at approximately 6:15 p.m., about an hour after crews arrived. Firefighters remained on scene for several more hours conducting overhaul operations before returning to their stations around 8:30 p.m.

No injuries were reported among firefighters or civilians.

Damage to the structure appeared to be limited, and officials anticipated only a minor disruption to transfer station operations.

The incident involved 20 members of the Keene Fire Department along with 63 mutual aid personnel from communities throughout the region. Several departments also provided station coverage within Keene while local crews remained committed to the scene.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Fire officials said the incident is not considered suspicious, but due to the nature of the materials involved and the methods required to extinguish the blaze, investigators are unlikely to identify an exact cause.

The incident marks the second fire at the transfer station in less than a year. In September 2025, firefighters responded to a blaze involving a pile of trash inside the facility. That fire was contained to waste materials and did not cause structural damage or injuries. City officials said quick action by transfer station staff and firefighters prevented the flames from spreading beyond the debris pile.

The September 2025 fire itself occurred only a few months after a larger blaze at the facility in May 2024 that caused significant damage and disrupted operations. At the time, city officials noted that improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous materials were believed to be a likely cause of fires at waste handling facilities, though the exact cause of that incident was not determined.

In the wake of the fire, the department reminded residents to properly dispose of hazardous materials and lithium-ion batteries, noting that such items should not be placed in regular household trash. Officials encourage residents to contact their local transfer station for guidance on proper disposal procedures.