Victim of Residential Fire in Deering Identified

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity of the deceased victim as Richard Berger, 72, of Deering. His cause and manner of death remains pending. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.

INITIAL NEWS RELEASE

DEERING, N.H. – New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Deering Fire Chief Robert Richards and Deering Police Chief Mark Philibert announce a joint investigation is underway after a residential fire. One person is deceased and another is injured.

At 9:19 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Deering Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a fire with multiple people trapped at a single-family home on Hart Farm Road in Deering. Officers from the Hillsboro Police Department arrived on the scene first and reported heavy fire coming from the house. Additional assistance was requested and firefighters from the communities of Hillsboro, Bradford, Mont Vernon, Henniker, Hopkinton, Washington, Weare, Antrim, Francestown, New Boston, Goffstown and Bennington responded. The fire was determined to be under control at 11:46 p.m.

With the assistance of a New Hampshire State Police human remains detection canine, one victim has been located deceased inside the home. Additionally, an adult male, who was initially trapped on the second floor when the fire started, was assisted out of the home by a neighbor and transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  He was later transferred to a Boston area hospital.

The deceased victim will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to verify their identity and confirm their cause and manner of death.

The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and Deering Fire & Rescue are actively investigating the origin and cause of the fire. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov. 

No further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided as appropriate.