MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Firefighters responded to a call at 65 Log Street for a fire discovered just before 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 21. Heavy fire was showing from the first floor of the three-story 36-unit apartment house, quickly escalating the fire to three alarms.
While the fire was being attacked, other firefighters were searching the building for residents and pets, and discovered three members of a family trapped in a ground level unit. They were able to escape the fire with assistance of firefighters through a window, as the heavy smoke and heat in the hallway made it impossible to get out of the building through the door.
Fire crews from Nashua, Londonderry, Derry, Auburn, Bedford, Merrimack, Hooksett, Goffstown, Litchfield and Salem covered for the Manchester stations during until the scene was cleared around 10 a.m. Approximately 25 people took temporary shelter at the William Cashin Center and were being assisted by Red Cross, which also provided a canteen truck for the firefighters on scene.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the course of fighting the blaze. About 50 residents are displaced and being assisted by the Red Cross, fire officials said.
Due to a “void space” along the third-floor living space the fire was able to spread along the exterior wall and roof area, escalating the blaze.
The building is owned by Evergreen Property Management. Initial estimate of damage is $750,000. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the Manchester Fire Marshal’s Office.
