Keene Transfer Station Open for Normal Hours After Tuesday Fire

The fire broke out shortly after 5 p.m., rapidly intensified and produced substantial flames at the front of the facility.

Firefighters from Keene and surrounding regions promptly responded to a significant blaze at the city’s transfer station located at 55 Old Summit Road on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out shortly after 5 p.m., rapidly intensifying and producing substantial flames at the front of the facility. Emergency crews quickly set to work, launching an interior attack as the initial response team evaluated the scene for any potential victims.

Due to the area's lack of municipal water service, firefighters utilized tankers to shuttle water from remote sources throughout the suppression efforts. Collaborating with heavy equipment operators, teams managed to control the blaze and subsequently remove debris to eliminate any lingering hot spots. The fire was reported under control within approximately an hour, by around 6:15 p.m., and crews remained on site to complete overhaul operations until roughly 8:30 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the firefighters or civilians during the incident.

In total, the fire response involved 20 firefighters from Keene and 63 personnel from nearby departments, including assistance from Gilsum, Jaffrey, Marlborough, and several others both in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The coordinated effort helped ensure that operations at the transfer station could resume with minimal disruption.

Following the incident, fire officials indicated that the cause of the fire is not expected to be determined due to the complexities of the materials involved and the extinguishing methods employed. Furthermore, it has been established that the fire is not considered suspicious. Residents have been reminded to refrain from discarding hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries, in regular trash to avoid similar incidents in the future.

This fire marks the second occurrence at the transfer station within a year, with a previous incident occurring in September 2025, which was also contained without structural damage. There was an earlier significant fire in May 2024 that had more severe consequences for operations at the facility, raising concerns over the proper disposal of hazardous waste.