MANCHESTER — A three-alarm fire ravaged a large apartment building late Thursday night, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to others.
The Manchester Fire Department, along with police and AMR ambulance services, responded to a call at 245 Village Circle Way after several reports of a fire.
Engine 4, stationed approximately a mile away, could see the fire’s glow as they neared the location.
Upon arrival at about 10:50 p.m., they encountered heavy flames on the building’s balconies at the rear.
Two firefighters from the engine team immediately set out to rescue several people reported trapped on the upper floors of the three-story structure, while another operated the pump.
As more crews arrived, they began the evacuation process for occupants of the building’s 28 apartments and worked to locate those who were trapped.
One man was extracted from an area engulfed in flames and was found to have suffered extreme burns.
Despite immediate CPR and rush to a local hospital by AMR medics and firefighters, the man later succumbed to his injuries.
Firefighting efforts were complicated when the hydrant feeding Engine 4 failed, prompting the need to lay hoses from alternative sources.
Ground ladders and two ladder trucks were deployed to access the upper floors and assist in the rescue efforts.
The blaze’s intensity and the building’s occupancy level led to a call for a second and third alarm, eventually bringing nearly 100 firefighters to the scene, including off-duty personnel.
Mutual aid was also provided by neighboring cities and towns.
A second victim, a woman, was also brought out from the building and received immediate medical attention before being transported to a local hospital.
Numerous pets were saved from the fire, with AMR medics administering oxygen to a cat, which survived.
Fortunately, no firefighters were injured in the incident.
Only two people, including the man who later died, were reported as being transported for medical treatment.
The fire was declared under control at 12:42 a.m., with crews remaining on-site throughout the night.
The NH Fire Marshal’s Office has been called to assist Manchester Fire Investigators in determining the cause of the fire, given the seriousness of the injuries and the fire’s magnitude.
