Tenants Evacuated After Chemical Incident At Nashua High-Rise Building

NASHUA, NH — AMR Ambulance and Nashua Fire responded to a high-rise apartment on Tyler Street for a man that was having difficulty breathing in his 7th-floor apartment Monday.

When fire and EMS entered the building at 56 Tyler St. they discovered a chemical smell coming from the man’s apartment. The occupant advised he had set off six “bed bombs” to kill the bed bugs in his apartment and remained inside the apartment after they were activated. The devices, which can be flammable and should not be used in occupied space, created a hazmat incident activation for Nashua Fire Rescue bringing additional apparatus and personnel to the scene.

Firefighters pulled the fire alarm activating the strobes and audible notification to evacuate about 80 people from the building.

The man in the apartment where the devices were immediately removed from the apartment by fire and EMS and the apartment door was shut until ventilation could be set up. The victim was transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center with respiratory issues.

Deputy Chief Kevin Kerrigan said only one of the “bug bombs” would typically be used and the situation had to be mitigated to prevent the chemical from spreading to the hallways.

Firefighters on air packs entered the building and set up fans in the hallway. A firefighter entered the apartment, opened the windows, and a fan created positive pressure to remove the chemical safely.

Residents gathered outside as firefighters worked inside and checked chemical level readings throughout the building.

After about one hour, the residents were advised they could return to the building. No other residents required medical transport from the building.

Nashua Fire wants to remind people that when using devices such as these canisters, follow the directions on the packaging.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news