Update: Homeless Camp Explosion, Fire Victim Identified

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police and fire investigators were assisted by the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office Saturday after an explosion and fire that left a man dead in Manchester.

The fire Saturday in a homeless camp was discovered by Fred Fricker. the owner of a Willow Street Auto Sales on Willow Street. Fricker said he was out moving cars in preparation of the snow storm when he heard "loud popping noises, sounding like gunfire or small explosions." The sounds and smoke were coming from a homeless camp behind his business. Just after 1 p.m. Manchester Fire Department was dispatched and the fire was quickly extinguished.

Firefighters discovered a deceased male in the tent which had the fire. He has been identified by the NH Fire Marshal's Office as Gary Silver, 64.

Manchester fire and police investigators worked at the area of the homeless camp to investigate the fire and check on other people living in the homeless camp. The camp where this occurred is located on an unused railroad bed which is accessed from Queen City Avenue. The camp is one of about 30 homeless camps around Manchester.

On Sunday an autopsy was completed by the Office of The New Hampshire Medical Examiner. The cause of death was smoke inhalation and the manner of death was accidental. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

This death is the second death in a week involving a homeless person in Manchester. A 40-Year-Old man was found deceased in a homeless camp under the Bridge St Bridge.

Manchester Fire Department also had to rescue people from a homeless camp along the Merrimack River last week.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news.