MANCHESTER, NH — Fire crews responded to 200 Hanover St. for a building fire Friday evening at the Hugh Gallon Apartments after heavy smoke was reported on the first floor.
Several residents of the city-owned public housing building required evacuation, and second-alarm was sounded to add more manpower. An MTA bus was brought to the scene to provide shelter for the building occupants during the operation, due to the cold and rainy weather. The building has 100 apartments and approximately 300 residents. The apartments are for the city’s elderly and is operated by Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Initial investigation indicates the fire may have been caused by careless disposal of smoking materials, according to Manchester Fire Chief Dan Goonan. Several people were checked out at the scene by AMR, and one man was reportedly transported from the scene with unknown injuries.
Eight families were displaced by the fire, according to the American Red Cross, which dispatched its Disaster Action Team volunteers to meet with the residents.
We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.
