Saturday fire does significant damage to Dover's Shanty Tavern

The interior of the Shanty Family Tavern after a blaze did significant damage late Saturday night. (City of Dover photo)

DOVER - Dover Fire and Rescue crews were able to extinguish a fire at The Shanty Family Tavern in downtown Dover following a 911 call from a passerby shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Dover fire crews responded to the call around 11:35 p.m. and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the rear of the 471 Central Ave. building.

Crews made their way through the front door, where they were met with a high heat, heavy smoke and fire, according to an official release from the city of Dover.

The fire was knocked down with multiple hose lines, and crews spent the next hour searching for and extinguishing remaining pockets of fire in the ceiling and walls.

The fire went to a second alarm, bringing additional help from the Rochester, Somersworth, Rollinsford, Durham, Lee, Newington and Portsmouth fire departments. Station coverage was provided by Newmarket; Lee; Berwick, Maine, South Berwick, Maine; Stewarts Ambulance and MacGregor Memorial EMS.

"We think the fire was burning unnoticed for quite some time before the smoke broke through on the outside and was witnessed by a passerby," said Dover Fire Chief Paul Haas. "A large amount of credit goes to the first arriving crew, who quickly sized up the situation, realized the conditions within, and advanced to extinguish a large body of the fire with the support of additional arriving fire companies. It is very unfortunate that a developing Dover business suffered a substantial amount of damage from this fire, but the fact that it was contained from spreading to immediately adjacent structures is a direct result of their efforts."

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Dover Fire and Rescue's Fire Investigation Team, with assistance from the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office. There were no injuries reported.

The last crews cleared the scene at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.