By Paul Feely
The New Hampshire Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Two firefighters were injured battling a three-alarm blaze that gutted two multi-family apartment buildings on Second Street Sunday afternoon, leaving 17 residents homeless.
Manchester Fire Chief James Burkush said crews first received a 911 call about a fire at 178 Second St. around 12:20 p.m.
“It looks like there was a a delay in calling 911, because as firefighters approached the area, they could see the smoke and flames rising over the tree line,” Burkush said.
The fire reached two-alarm status at 12:31 p.m., then three alarms at 12:45 p.m., as fire spread into a multi-family structure at 180 Second St. Flames melted the siding on a third building at 182 Second St.
Jennifer Timmons, a resident of Manchester’s West Side, said she was driving along Second Street as flames began shooting out of 178 Second St. She pulled into a parking lot across the street.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Timmons. “The flames were shooting out the roof, out the windows, burning the tops of trees next to the house. Then it was in the second house, and they told me I had to get out of my car and move away.”
Timmons was unable to leave until fire crews were finished using a high-pressure water hose that ran in front of her car. “They were shooting water at the fire over an hour,” Timmons said. “It was pretty intense.”
Dave Stewart was nearby when the fire broke out, and saw the flames reaching well over the tops of nearby trees.
“I was in Detroit a few months ago and saw some of the house fires there,” said Stewart. “This looked like a Detroit fire. It was raging and moving pretty quick.”
Burkush said two Manchester firefighters suffered heat exhaustion. One was transported to Elliot Hospital for treatment, while a second firefighter was treated at the scene. Burkush did not release the name of either firefighter on Sunday.
According to Kristen Binau, regional disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross, 17 people were displaced as a result of the blaze. All residents exited the building and were accounted for Sunday afternoon. Binau said several were home at the time of the blaze.
“There were six families affected in all, three in each building,” said Binau. “We were just told by the district chief they will not be allowed back in tonight to get any belongings, because the damage is too much.”
Binau said the Red Cross was working to find accommodations for the displaced individuals Sunday night. The property is managed by Red Oak Apartment Homes, according to Burkush.
Burkush said the cause of the fire was under investigation Sunday, though it appears to have started behind 178 Second St., possibly on a rear porch. The back side of the buildings at 178 and 180 Second St. appeared completely burned through late Sunday, with blackened holes in the ceilings and charred remains of windows, walls and doors visible. There were also two burned-out vehicles behind the structure.
Manchester police shut down portions of Second and Walker streets, along with surrounding roadways, detouring traffic away from the scene while fire crews knocked down the flames.
Crews were clearing from the scene around 5:24 p.m. Sunday.
___
(c)2015 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.