Cause of Colebrook Apartment Fire That Killed Warren Hayes Remains Under Investigation
COLEBROOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE (December 16, 2025) – A 59-year-old man identified as Warren Hayes died in a Colebrook apartment fire on Parsons Street.
Coos County officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help the victims.
Upon entering one unit, they located Warren Hayes. He was extricated from the building and transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Sadly, Warren Hayes later died at the hospital. A full investigation into the cause of the Colebrook apartment fire remains ongoing.
Liability for New Hampshire Apartment Fires
Property owners in New Hampshire have a legal obligation to protect their residences from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Liability for an apartment fire will often come down to whether or not a landlord or property manager failed to meet their duty of care to keep their premises safe. If a fire is caused by code violations, such as inadequate fire safety measures, the owner could be responsible under premises liability law.
There are several building code violations that could contribute to an apartment fire or facilitate its spread.
- Inadequate Maintenance: An apartment may have improper equipment that was poorly maintained.
- Smoke Alarms: The smoke alarms inside of apartment units may have been missing or otherwise nonfunctional.
- Building Materials: An apartment owner may have used unapproved building materials that increase the risk that a fire will spread quickly.
Depending on the specific facts of any case, there may be multiple sources of liability for an apartment fire. This could include the company responsible for performing work on the building. It may also include the company responsible for producing a wide range of consumer goods. Defective products are increasingly involved in fatal apartment fires. Devices that contain lithium-ion batteries are particularly concerning.
Steps to Take After New Hampshire Apartment Fires
Far too many people are seriously injured or killed every year in residential fires. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 1,389,000 fires resulted in 3,670 civilian deaths and 13,350 injuries. In addition, there were 89 firefighter deaths. This firefighter’s fatal injury count is a decrease from the 97 fatal injuries in 2022, but is otherwise the second highest since 2013.” Any person affected by an apartment fire should take certain actions to protect their rights.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to injuries should be gathered.
- Fire Source: The cause or source of the fire should be determined. The reason that a fire started can help reveal who could be liable.
- Maintenance Records: Maintenance records for the building where the fire took place should be carefully reviewed. These references may have revealed serious deficiencies and fire code violations.
- Legal Review: Victims of apartment fires should consider all of their legal options with experienced legal counsel.
Residential fires are often complex events. The factors that contribute to an apartment fire may take place hours, days, or weeks beforehand. They may involve building code violations, improper maintenance, or even defective products. Victims of residential fires were able to seek some measure of accountability for a civil claim. This right extends to the surviving family members of any person who dies. Those surviving family members are able to pursue some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating New Hampshire Apartment Fires
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Warren Hayes. Anyone with additional information about what happened should contact the investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps will be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Do you need more information about a New Hampshire apartment fire? Our team of New Hampshire fire safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding apartment owners accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.