MANCHESTER, NH — One person was treated for injury and 20 residents of an apartment house were displaced following a three-alarm blaze at 25 Clifford Ave., reported just after midnight Oct. 30.
All Manchester fire apparatus were needed to control this blaze, according to District Chief Michael Gamach. Mutliple 911 calls came in regarding the fire, and it was elevated to three alarms within nine minutes from the time of dispatch.
Response time after the first call was approximately three minutes, according to Gamache. The third-floor rear porch area of the six-unit occupied residence was engulfed in fire which extended above the roofline and up through the structure. In addition the fire was threatening neighboring homes in this tightly packed area of the city. Black smoke extended from all three floors on the front of the building made it necessary for arriving firefighters to assist some occupants along with several pets to safety from the interior of the building.
A coordinated search and rescue along with a simultaneous attack began as additional alarms were struck bringing in additional manpower. Firefighters were able to search all of the apartments at the height of the blaze under zero visibility and high heat conditions, rescuing several pets. All off duty Manchester firefighters were requested to the scene. Neighboring departments provided mutual aid to cover manchester fire stations.
Valiant efforts by the fire companies kept the fire to the building of origin.
Estimated damage is approximately $100,000. One person was tranported from the scene for smoke inhalation.
The fire displaced 20 residents who are being assisted by Red Cross. These residents were initially brought to an evacuation center was established nearby for displaced residents. The cause is currently under investigation and is determined to be accidental.
