DERRY, N.H. --
A three-story barn in Derry is being called a total loss after a two-alarm fire destroyed it Sunday, fire officials said.
Lance Stevens said it was a fixture in the neighborhood.
"You could see it. Big, red barn full of all his stuff. It's awful," Stevens said.
Stevens lives across the street from 78 Warner Hill Road, a place that was home to a hot air balloon business.
The Derry Fire Battalion Chief Jack Webb said the owner was there when the fire started.
"He was in the process of filling propane tanks for the baskets," Webb said.
Fire investigators said the owner was inside the basket when it caught fire. They said he jumped out, pushed it off this van and then drove the vehicle a few feet away, but the fire soon spread to the barn where hot air balloons and antique cars were stored, along with tools for a drywall business.
The many propane tanks used for the balloons created a big challenge for the firefighters, and there were many explosions.
"Parts of the building went easily 50 to 100 feet in the air. One explosion lifted a pick up truck that was fully involved 3 to 5 feet into the air," Webb said.
There were nearly 100 firefighters doing everything from fighting the blaze to getting water, but they couldn't save the barn; however, the house just 60 feet away was spared and only sustained siding damage.
The fire also scorched grass and sent soot and debris into neighbors' yards.
"The dumpster was catching fire. They hosed it off and there were embers," Stevens said.
One firefighter was transported to Parkland Medical Center with a non-life threatening injury. Two other people were evaluated on-scene with minor injuries.
The barn was used for storage and no livestock were located in the structure. It was determined to be a total loss, officials said.
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