Feb. 06--MANCHESTER -- A stubborn, three-alarm fire raged through a 12-unit apartment building at 213 Green St. late Tuesday.
Fire Chief James Burkush, who suffered a cut to his hand, said firefighters were still trying to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings more than two hours after it was reported shortly after 10 p.m.
Firefighters continued to douse the building's third floor with water from multiple hoses atop ladder trucks at midnight.
The fire appeared to have been contained by about 11 p.m., but a second wave of heavy smoke and fire hit the third floor, prompting ladder trucks to move in a second time.
Burkush said the fire did not rekindle.
"No, it was never out," he said.
Burkush said at 11:30 p.m. that he was the only person injured in the fire, "that I know of."
Rafael Cruz said he'd gone out to a store to buy some milk and, when he came back, saw smoke billowing from his apartment, as well as from the first floor and the basement. He said he got his family, including children 2 and 7, out and went back to warn neighbors.
He said he left the building when flames and smoke got stronger and he saw police and firefighters arrive.
"The flames were too much," he said. "I'm still choking, but I'm all right. I'm alive."
Cruz said he moved into the building in November and does not have renter's insurance. He said he has lost everything except a couple of his kids' coats and a blanket.
"I didn't have time to get clothes and other stuff," he said.
It is the city's second fire in two days; fire damaged a home at 305-307 Hanover St. Sunday night.
Copyright 2013 - The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
