MANCHESTER, NH –Manchester Fire officials have determined that the cause of a fire at 557 Pine St. late Nov. 21 was due to the victim smoking while on oxygen.
The initial alarm was dispatched as an alarm activation at about 8:45 p.m., no fire was reported. Manchester Fire crews arrived to find fire on the 3rd floor and called dispatch to fill out the remainder of the first alarm assignment.
While crews were advancing hose lines they encountered a fire victim, a 59-year-old female, in the stairwell between the 2nd and 3rd floors and a second alarm was called.
Crews quickly removed the victim from the building and rendered emergency medical treatment, while other crews evacuated occupants, confined and extinguished the fire. The fire victim was treated and transported by AMR to the Elliot hospital and was airlifted to Mass General where she remains in critical condition, suffering from respiratory distress and severe burns.
Cause of the fire was smoking while on oxygen, and classified as accidental.
