Photos by
JAY L. HEATH
Story by
CHRIS JOHNSON

On Saturday, July 13, 2002, the City of Manchester, NH Fire Department received a walk-in at fire headquarters, reporting a fire on Merrimack Street, between Elm and Chestnut Streets. Box 311 was struck at 1803 hours, sending Engines 11, 1, & 5, Trucks 1, & 5, Rescue 1, and Car 1.

Engine 1 arrived first, less than a block from fire headquarters, and reported smoke showing from Side 4, Floor 5 of 795 Elm Street (on the corner of Merrimack Street). District Chief Thomas Clayton established command and ordered companies to initiate an interior attack. Fire rapidly overtook the entire fifth floor of the 300 foot by 300 foot six-story ordinary construction taxpayer. Each of the building's six stories were occupied by businesses, including Capri Pizza, Next Ticketing, and the Manchester Health Department. Several adjoining buildings were also evacuated.

The Second Alarm was struck at 1810 hours, bringing Engines 2 & 6, and Truck 2 to the scene, with Engine 10 special called as the F.A.S.T. Company. At 1904 hours the Third Alarm was sounded ordering Engines 4 & 9, and Truck 7 to respond.

Conditions continued to deteriorate rapidly. At 1914 all personnel were ordered off the roof, and at 1936 all companies were ordered to withdraw from the building, due to concerns that the building was in jeopardy of collapse in the Side 2/3 corner. At that time an exterior attack was mounted.

Smoke and fire were visible over the city skyline for over 15 miles to the north. Hundreds of local residents gathered to see the activity as all of the downtown area of Manchester was closed to traffic.

A Fourth Alarm was struck at 1938 hours, bringing Engine 21 (Nashua E4) & Engine 211 (Concord E4), and Truck 3 to the scene. Additional special calls brought Engines 27 & 31 (both companies from Londonderry), and Truck 21 (Nashua Tower 1) to the scene later in the fire.

The under control was put in at 0032 hours on Sunday, July 14.

Although only Four Alarms were actually struck, Seven Alarms worth of apparatus and personnel were used at the scene. All nine Manchester Engine Companies, each of their six Truck Companies, the Quint, and the Rescue were working, along side mutual aid companies from Nashua (Engine 4 & Tower 1), Concord (Engine 4), and Londonderry (two Engine Companies). Several neighboring communities provided coverage for Manchester's nine fire stations.

Companies remained on scene and worked throughout the night and through the day Sunday, July, 14. At 1507 hours on Sunday Engines 1, 3, & 11 and Trucks 6 & 1 were called back to the scene to continue overhaul after smoke again began issuing from an elevator shaft opening in the roof.