One Person Dead, One Critically Injured In Morning Fire In Nashua Home

NASHUA, NH — Nashua Fire dispatch received a report of a house fire at 86 Langholm Drive Thursday at 1:30 a.m.

The caller reported the single-family home was on fire, and it was unknown if it was occupied. Nashua firefighters, police, and a crew from AMR arrived at the scene and reported heavy fire from the residence. Additional resources were dispatched to the scene, including additional AMR ambulances and mutual aid to cover Nashua stations.

When firefighters arrived they were advised that there was still one occupant in the building and began an attempt to enter the residence. Firefighters were met with heavy fire throughout the structure and through the roof.

Crews inside the building said over a radio transmission that they were encountering issues accessing the interior due to what they described as "heavy hoarding conditions."

Alternative crews were directed to make an attempt to access the bedroom in the front corner of the house through a window. A short time later, the victim was located, removed from the residence, and brought to a waiting AMR ambulance. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she died.

Positive identification of the victim, as well as the cause and manner of their death, is pending an autopsy scheduled for later this week.

Two other residents of the home were also transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and they were transferred to a Boston hospital. One of the residents was in critical condition, while the second resident was in stable condition.

Firefighters worked to do secondary searches in the residence, which had three vehicles parked in the driveway. While firefighters were working at the scene, a power line attached to the residence fell to the ground, creating a hazardous condition, and Eversource responded to mitigate the issue.

The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is active and ongoing by members of the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office, Nashua Fire Department, and the Nashua Police Department.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.

State Fire Marshal Toomey would like to remind everyone of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes.

In the event of an alarm activation or visible smoke or fire, residents should immediately exit their homes and call 9-1-1. Keep exits clear and accessible at all times and have a home fire escape plan. Anyone with questions about home fire safety should contact their local fire department or the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Nashua NH Patch will update when more information becomes available.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news