https://www.wmur.com/article/r...due-to-fire/73699453

EPPING, N.H. —

Firefighters responded Saturday morning to reports of a fire at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, prompting a large emergency response and the closure of part of Route 27.

Sig Sauer Academy is a firearm education and training facility where the merchandise inside is different than that in a typical commercial building.

Just before 11 a.m. Saturday, the Epping Fire Department was called to the academy on Exeter Road, prompting automatic mutual aid to the scene.

When first responders arrived, they said they saw smoke and began fighting the fire. Officials called a second alarm given the volume of the fire in the building.

According to officials, fire crews had difficulty getting to other areas of the building.

Authorities say firefighters had to cut holes in the building due to the lack of windows and access for ventilation before a third alarm was struck.

Fire officials say they searched the building and found no one inside.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but has since been treated and released.

The fire was determined to be under control just after 12 p.m., and the scene cleared around 3 p.m.
Part of Route 27 was closed due to the large response but has since reopened.

The Epping Fire Chief, Ken Berkenbush, said he believes the building is a total loss, but a lot of the contents inside were able to be saved.

Although there was ammunition inside of the fiery building, Berkenbush said it was not a big cause for concern.

"The other thing they have, too, is ammunition. For those who've never done it before, which I have, ammunition goes off inside, but it just pops up. There's no real velocity and really won't harm you because it has to come out of a rifle barrel," said Berkenbush.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire, but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious at this time.

The affected building was formerly known as the SIG Pro Shop, before the MUCH larger SIG Experience Center was built directly across the roadway at SIG Academy.

Fun Fact - I purchased the last P226-X5 L1 remaining SIG's U.S. inventory from that very facility.

Hey, they told me I purchased the last X5L1 !!

Actually, I purchased the last two (2) San Swiss 553P's there - probably about the same time you got your L1.

That's 2 fires at Sig NH facilities since late July.

^^ OK here's the back story. I had been wanting the X5 for a while, it was discontinued, plus I already knew inventory was extremely limited, based on my previous visit to the Pro Shop one week prior. It wasn't available anywhere online either so I decided it was time to get one while I still could.

I arrived at the Pro Shop with the intent of picking up the X5 Competition, but after fondling both convinced myself I should get the L1 instead. They checked the inventory, handed me a 4473 and headed out back out to grab it from the warehouse. I had already finished the 4473 when they brought it out, I gave it a once over, asked if it was OK to Dry Fire it, and then did so. I cycled the slide and then checked the reset (which was awesome!), but it had a dead trigger after that. I was thinking that's weird, and just then the sales guy, filling out his portion of the 4473, asked to see the X5 to verify the S/N so I handed it to him. He was just about to call in the NICS Check, when I told him to hold on, and that I wanted to see the X5 again. Sure enough, same dead trigger that time as well. I asked if he had another X5 L1 in stock, and explained the issue. He checked, and then stated, you're in luck, we've got exactly one, and it's the last one in our U.S. Inventory. He went back to get it, brought it out, and it was perfect, AND the S/N ended in 007!. He handed me another 4473, tore up the old one, called it in the NICS Check.

And that's how I got the last remaining P226-X5 L1 in SIG's U.S. Inventory!

quote:

Crews battle 3-alarm fire at Sig Sauer Academy

Again? I had to double-check the timestamp to be sure this wasn't a years-old thread revived.

NHRacecraft, glad you could get one (if not the) of the last German Mastershop imports.

That old Pro-Shop was going to be a restaurant after the new SEC opened. Then that idea was nixed and it became a BJJ/MMA studio for a short period of time. Depending on the fire damage, I suspect they will level the building and add parking there.

I also saw a report that someone had a ND at their range the next day and shot off a finger.

P320?

quote:

Originally posted by jer830:
P320?

If it's a negligent discharge, it's usually the shooter, not the gun.

So, will this be SIG’s first uncommanded ignition that can actually be explained by investigators?

During the P229/P226 era, Sig's motto was "To hell and back reliability". I'd really be interested to know if they could pick up a P229 or P226 from this fire and see if it still functions. That would be great advertising if it did function.