The Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H — An early morning fire caused by a defective chimney at 100 Middle St. displaced two families yesterday as firefighters had to search for the fire in a wall.
Firefighters were called at 5:47 a.m. with a report of the smell of smoke in the building.
When they arrived, they could smell and see light smoke in the structure, said District Chief Mike Gamache.
Firefighters had to open up walls and floors to find and extinguish the fire, he said, having it under control at 6:28 a.m. The department did not leave the scene until 7:15 a.m.
The building contains five residential units and one office, Gamache said. Families living in two of the units have been displaced until significant repairs are made.
He said the fire caused about $30,000 in damage.
Gamache said the 100-year-old building once housed mill workers and has fireplaces in many units that are used occasionally today.
The chimney where the fire began appeared to be defective or in disrepair, he noted.
No one was injured in the fire, officials said.
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