Porches Were Engulfed With Flames Before Firefighters Arrived At Nashua Fire

NASHUA, NH — Nashua Fire dispatch received multiple calls reporting a fire in a multi-unit building in the area of 185 West Hollis St. on Sunday morning.

As firefighters responded, they could see heavy black smoke billowing into the air in the area of the reported location of the fire. The first arriving apparatus at about 10 a.m. reported the porches on the back of the building were engulfed in fire — and the heat was beginning to cause exterior damage to two adjacent buildings. A second alarm was requested, bringing additional personnel and apparatus to the scene and for station coverage at the Nashua stations.

The location of the fire presented challenges for firefighters because it was a one-way street requiring apparatus to approach the wrong way down West Hollis Street to access hydrants to the west of the fire.

Two ladder trucks were set up to gain access to the roof where the fire was venting, fire spanned from the basement to the attic. Crews inside the building searched for occupants and determined no people were home. Several cats were taken to a local animal hospital for treatment.

Crews were ordered out once the building was searched and the fire expanded quickly.

Using master streams of water from the ladder trucks, water was streamed through the holes cut in the roof.

As the heavy fire was controlled, crews did additional searches in the building and located several small pockets of fire burning in ceilings and walls.

A ladder had to be used for firefighters to access the basement due to the fire causing the stairs to collapse.

The building owner verified three different apartments — one on the first and two on the second. The building’s address is 185 and 187 West Hollis St.

Sixty firefighters operated for nearly two and a half hours to control the fire and complete overhaul operations.

Several surrounding towns and city departments, including Manchester, Hudson, Hollis, and Merrimack, responded to the scene. Londonderry, Manchester, Dracut, Lowell, Chelmsford, and Pepperell provided station coverage. Two AMR units also assisted.

The damage to the building to the left and rear appeared to damage the exterior, but the living spaces were unaffected.

Deputy Chief Mark Wholey said that it does not appear that anyone was home at the time of the fire, and no civilians or firefighters were injured.

Nashua Fire Rescue responded with six engines, three ladder trucks, special hazards, the mechanical division, and fire investigators.

Nashua Emergency Management and the American Red Cross are assisting six people displaced from their apartments.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office, Nashua Police Department, and the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news