Mail destroyed after carrier vehicle catches fire in N.H.

GILFORD, N.H. — The United States Postal Service (USPS) is trying to salvage as much mail as possible from a carrier vehicle that caught fire in Gilford, New Hampshire this past weekend.

USPS said mail for numerous addresses was damaged Saturday when the vehicle caught fire on Cherry Valley Road.

The mail was either destroyed or damaged by a combination of the fire and water used to douse the flames.

Local USPS managers responded to the scene and have taken steps to ensure the security of the mail.

Laconia’s postmaster, Steve Legro, has mailed postcards to Gilford residents and businesses on the affected delivery route to make them aware of the situation.

“A concerted effort is currently underway to recover, salvage, sanitize and deliver as much mail from the damaged vehicle as possible, although it’s evident at this time that much of the mail was completely destroyed,” Legro wrote.

Legro said anyone who had mail delivered on Saturday wasn’t impacted, but any outgoing mail left for the carrier that day was likely destroyed in the fire.

“Every single piece of mail is important; and we ask for your understanding as we complete the process,” Legro added.

No one was hurt as a result of the fire. USPS thanked first responders for their timely and professional efforts.

“Everyone was able to go home to their families unharmed on Saturday,” Legro wrote.

A USPS spokesperson said the postcards should be delivered by the end of the week.

Anyone who as a question about a piece of mail they were expected or that may have been in the vehicle can either call Legro at 603-524-6271, call the U.S. Postal Service Consumer & Industry Contact office at 1-800-275-8777 or visit usps.com and find information to file a claim under the HELP tab.

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