Photos By Bob Gauley
Story By Jeff Blanchard

On the morning of March 23, 2002, just after am, the Hanover Fire Department received a report of a fire at an auto body shop located in a warehouse/apartment complex at 175 Winter St.

First arriving apparatus found fire and heavy smoke showing. Residents reported that someone was still inside a basement apartment.

Shortly after arrival it was determined that all 7 occupants were accounted for.

The initial interior attack with a 2 1/2" handline was abandoned early on when conditions deteriorated rapidly.

Numerous explosions occurred inside the building as the fire consumed cars, paint containers and a 55 gallon drum of racing fuel.

A firewall on side B and a masonry block wall on side D helped firefighters contain the fire to the original 1 1/2 story building that was approximately 80' x 50' with a full walkout basement on side C.

Mutual aid responded from the surrounding towns of Rockland, Hanson, Norwell and Pembroke.

No one was injured during the fire which took 4 hours to bring under control.

The complex was once part of a major munitions plant that shut down after the Vietnam War. The building was the site of another major fire during the early 1970s that had firefighters diving for cover under their apparatus when tear gas canisters began erupting from the building.