MANCHESTER, NH — A second-floor kitchen fire forced the evacuation of all residents Sunday night and resulted in the rescue of several cats from the two-story residence at 54 Carroll St.
Multiple 911 calls were received Dec. 20 by the Manchester Fire Department at about 8:20 p.m. reporting the fire. Crews from South Main Street Station 2 arrived to find fire extending through the roof from the second floor rear of the home. Thick black smoke had permeated the second floor creating a zero-visibility situation for firefighters, who also encountered intensive heat.
Crews advanced to the seat of the fire and began to extinguish the blaze while subsequent arriving fire companies entered both the first and second floor to search for any trapped occupants. No occupants were found inside as they had all self-evacuated, two from the first floor and one occupant from the second floor.
One cat was rescued by firefighters on the first floor and three additional cats from the first floor were brought out by the occupants as they evacuated. The second floor tenant, Angus Anderson, re-entered the burning building after he had evacuated to look for his two cats, which he found and removed. Anderson sustained minor smoke inhalation in addition to cuts and bruises during his escape. He refused treatment from medical personnel from AMR who were on the scene.
Damage was estimated at $75,000 by District Fire Chief Michael Gamache.
The fire began in the kitchen in the area of the stove top, according to Gamache. Red Cross was called in to assist both families, who will be displaced for an extended period of time. The building is owned by Duane & Jennifer Ricard who reside with their family on the first floor. Anderson resides on the second floor.
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