Overview
- The fire began just before 7 p.m. on Friday at a house on Atlantic Avenue and quickly escalated to a five‑alarm response as flames and thick black smoke spread to nearby buildings.
- Firefighters from Salisbury plus roughly 15 mutual‑aid companies from neighboring Massachusetts towns and New Hampshire fought the blaze and brought the heavy fire largely under control after about two hours.
- At least two people were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries and a third person was later reported hurt, while all residents were accounted for and two pets were rescued.
- The fire damaged four homes, displaced several families, and caused bystanders and an off‑duty firefighter to assist in early rescues; no firefighters were reported injured.
- The State Fire Marshal’s office and Massachusetts State Police fire investigators are leading an origin‑and‑cause inquiry that officials say will take time given the extensive damage and ongoing evidence recovery.