New Hampshire Fire Damage Pegged at $9.5M

An investigator looking at a massive fire in February that destroyed a block of buildings along New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach estimates the damage to be at least $9.5 million.

Hampton Fire Prevention Officer Jon True said that number takes into account the loss of the businesses and inventory, fire department equipment, and other categories. He says that may be a conservative estimate. Investigators from Hampton, the state and insurance companies are working to determine the cause, origin and damage reports from the fire, which was reported early Feb. 26 at the Surf Hotel and spread to an arcade, a gift shop, and other businesses.

A final report on the fire, which was spread across multiple boardwalk properties by hurricane-force winds, is not expected for several weeks.