Fire Ravages Sig Sauer Academy, Shutting Down Route 27 in Epping

Early Saturday morning, just before 11 a.m., the Epping Fire Department got a frantic call about smoke pouring out of the Sig Sauer Academy on Exeter Road. Within minutes, the whine of the fire‑engine sirens was a familiar sound echoing through the town.

When the crews rolled up, they were met with thick, black smoke billowing from the building’s windows. The academy, a specialized firearms‑training facility, isn’t your typical retail space – its interior is packed with weapons, ammunition and training equipment, making the situation a touch more delicate.

Because the fire was already roaring, the incident commander quickly escalated the response to a second alarm. More engines, ladder trucks and volunteers converged on the scene, and soon the blaze was classified as a three‑alarm fire.

One of the biggest challenges the firefighters faced was the academy’s design. With few windows and limited ventilation points, the heat and smoke were trapped inside, forcing crews to literally cut holes in the walls to create escape routes for the fire and to get fresh air for their breathing gear.

Despite the chaos, a thorough sweep of the structure revealed no one inside – the building was empty at the time of the blaze. One firefighter did suffer minor injuries while battling the flames, but after a quick assessment he was treated on‑scene and released.

By just after noon, the fire was finally under control, and crews began the painstaking task of clearing debris and checking for hotspots. The scene was officially cleared around 3 p.m., allowing authorities to reopen the affected stretch of Route 27, which had been shut down for several hours to accommodate the emergency response.

Epping Fire Chief Ken Berkenbush, speaking later in the afternoon, said the academy is likely a total loss. “A lot of the contents were saved, but the structure itself… it’s pretty much gone,” he remarked. He also reassured the public about the ammunition that was stored inside, explaining that any rounds that went off inside the building would merely “pop” rather than fire with any dangerous velocity, because they lacked the barrel of a gun to accelerate them.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. At this point, officials say there’s no evidence to suggest arson or any foul play, but the probe is still ongoing.

While the blaze was dramatic, the community’s response was calm and coordinated. Neighbors checked in on one another, and the fire crews received a steady stream of thank‑you notes as they worked tirelessly to keep the fire from spreading further.