Residents Displaced in Amherst Street, Temple Street Fires

A two-alarm fire on Amherst Street followed by a fire at the Temple Street Hotel kept city firefighters busy Sunday.

Just before noon crews responded to an apartment fire a Amherst Park Apartments. Five people were displaced by the fire, according to Deputy Fire Chief Michael O'Brien. 

While crews were still working the Amherst Street fire a second fire was reported at 23 Temple Street, also known as the Temple Street Hotel. That fire was contained to fourth-floor apartment. Residents from affected units were relocated in other apartments until water damage could be cleared. 

O'Brien said between the two fires and several calls for water damage due to burst pipes, fire crews were busy Sunday.

Incident Report for Amherst Street Fire

Incident Date and Time: 01/05/2014 11:57 a.m.

First Unit on Scene: Engine 5

Incident Location: 525 Amherst St. Amherst Park Apartments                                                                                                       

Property Owners Name: Amherst Park Apartments                                                                                                

Smoke Detectors?  [ Y / N ]:  Yes                                

Working?  [ Y / N ]:  Yes

Mutual Aid to Scene:     No                                                                                 

Mutual Aid Coverage/Stations:   Manchester, Hudson, Tyngsborough                                                                                     

Situation Encountered/Action Taken: Received a box alarm for Building "A." Upon arrival nothing was showing as far smoke or fire. However, upon entry by Engine 5 when they passed through the compartment smoke doors they encountered a heavy smoke condition in the basement coming from an apartment of a three-story apartment building.  After exterior ventilation was made they entered the apartment and extinguished the fire.  Significant heat and smoke damage occurred on all three floors, which required the Red Cross to respond for one adult and two children of the fire apartment and two adults of a smoke-effected apartment.  Currently no cause has been determined for the fire, and it is being investigated by the City of Nashua Fire Marshal's Office. 

No injuries have been recorded for this fire.

Special Hazards Encountered: Not at this specific location, however the city was experiencing a very large call volume due to the thawing of pipes that were previously frozen due to the recent arctic cold snap, causing in some situations significant water damage.  Mutual aid companies greatly assisted in this area.

Incident Report for Temple Street Fire:

Incident Date and Time: 01/05/2014 12:38 p.m.

First Unit on Scene: Engine 2

Incident Location: 23 Temple St., Temple Street Hotel                        

Property Owners Name: Temple Street Hotel

Property Owners Address: 23 Temple St.

Smoke Detectors?  [ Yes ]:                                               

Working?  [ Yes ]:

Mutual Aid to Scene: Yes - Hudson Engine                                                 

Mutual Aid Coverage/Stations:    Yes. Mutual Aid Company’s already in the City from a simultaneous fire on Amherst Street.                                         

Situation Encountered/Action Taken: Received an alarm from Municipal Fire Alarm Box 931 which was tripped by a sprinkler activation, upon arrival we found a fire in Apt 410 on the fourth floor that was contained by the sprinkler. First arriving  Fire company’s were able to quickly extinguish the remaining fire held by the sprinkler.

Special Hazards Encountered: Large Rooming house with numerous tenants. This fire occurred while Other Nashua Fire crews were at another fire on Amherst Street.

Rescues: Most occupants had self-evacuated when the initial alarms went off. Fire crews did escort several occupants from the building.

Accomplishments: Fire was contained to the room of origin by the sprinkler , however major water damage was encountered on the three floors below. Crews were able to perform salvage operations to keep damage to a minimum.

The city building inspectors were called in to inspect the building services that were affected.

Cause: Under Investigation by the Nashua Fire Marshals' Office

Injuries: [Gender/Age/Injuries/Condition]: None