Elderly Woman Killed In Early Morning Merrimack 2-Alarm Fire

MERRIMACK, NH — An elderly woman has died after a fire on Harris Avenue Wednesday, according to Merrimack Interim Fire Chief Matthew Duke.

Merrimack firefighters responded to a reported house fire around 5 a.m. and found heavy fire in the front portion of the 2-story home. Fire crews worked to knock down the fire so they could make entry into the home to search for an occupant reportedly still inside. Firefighters were challenged to search the house due to a large amount of contents in the house.

Crews located an elderly woman in the rear portion of the house and removed her, and performed CPR at the scene. Duke said firefighters were unable to revive the woman.

The NH State Fire Marshal's Office has identified the victim of the fire as Shirley Mae Gordon age, 81.

A second alarm was struck bringing several towns and cities to the scene of the fire and to Merrimack fire stations for coverage. The fire has been brought under control in approximately an hour.

The NH Medical Examiner’s Office has conducted an autopsy Thursday and determined that her cause of death was smoke inhalation and the manner of death was accidental.

Merrimack Fire, police, and the NH State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the fire. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation.

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©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news.