Plymouth, New Hampshire found itself in chaos as a fire broke out near the Flying Monkey Performance Center during a concert on Saturday night. The blaze, which originated from neighboring businesses, prompted the evacuation of approximately 450 concert-goers from the historic venue.
Plymouth Fire Rescue swiftly responded to the scene at Main Street, where the former Peppercorn Natural Food Store and Downtown Pizza were ablaze. Fortunately, neither of the buildings were occupied at the time of the fire. However, one firefighter sustained a shoulder injury and was transported to Speare Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Efforts to contain the fire faced challenges due to the close proximity of the buildings and the complex structures of one of the buildings. As the fire progressed in concealed spaces, firefighters were forced to retreat from the building, prompting a shift to defensive operations, as stated in a press release by Plymouth Fire Rescue.
The concert at the Flying Monkey Performance Center, featuring Foreigners Journey and Constantine Maroulis, had to be abruptly halted as multiple firefighting crews from neighboring areas rushed to assist in battling the blaze. While the venue suffered minor smoke damage, it was forced to close temporarily for cleanup.
The heroic actions of the Flying Monkey staff, who quickly evacuated everyone from the building upon noticing the fire next door, were praised on social media. In a post on Facebook, the venue expressed solidarity with affected neighbors and pledged support for their recovery efforts.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire, with Plymouth Fire-Rescue and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office leading the inquiry. Plymouth Fire Chief Tom Morrison commended the fire crews for limiting the fire to the two involved buildings and praised the vigilance of the Flying Monkey’s management in promptly detecting and reporting the incident.
The Flying Monkey has been a cherished establishment in historic Plymouth, New Hampshire, having transitioned from a vaudeville and silent film theatre in the 1920s to a bustling entertainment hub after renovation in 2010 by The Common Man family. As the community grapples with the aftermath of the fire, the resilience of the Flying Monkey and its commitment to rebuilding shine through, rallying support for a beloved local landmark.