HOOKSETT, N.H. --
Three firefighters were injured in a three-alarm fire in Hooksett on Monday evening.
Firefighters from dozens of towns were called just before 6 p.m. to a building at 242 W. River Road, which was shut down for almost four hours between Scott Avenue and Cross Road.
Crews remained at the scene through 11 p.m., working on leftover hot spots on Route 3A.
The building's owner told fire officials that everyone inside the MowTown Power Equipment building was able to safely escape. The firefighters injured were taken to area hospitals via ambulances. Fire officials said the extent of their injuries was unknown, but they are expected to be OK.
Neighbors described panic as the fire grew quickly.
"We were just sitting there on the porch and, all of a sudden, we started smelling smoke. (We) looked up and the whole sky was lit up over there," said David Farrand, a witness.
The building contained snow blowers, chainsaws and other items -- many filled with gasoline.
"It's a bunch of lawn and garden equipment. We have a bunch of flammable, combustible liquids and tanks and stuff like that," Hooksett Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hoisington said.
Witnesses said they could hear small explosions as the fire grew.
"We heard the popping and we heard the blowing of the different tanks or engines or whatever ... a propane tank right by the front door ... went pop -- it blew immediately -- and the smoke in the air, it was orange and then yellow, and it was just going right up above the building," said Kristen Rankle, a witness.
Fire investigators arrived early to try to determine the cause.
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