Photo Story: Three-alarm Fire Destroys Two N.H. Buildings

An Aug. 2 fire swept through two buildings in Manchester.

Around 12:30 p.m., the Manchester Fire Department started to receive multiple calls for a building fire at 178 Second Street. Car 2 reported heavy smoke showing from a distance.

On arrival, Car 2 reported heavy and smoke from a 2 1/2-story wood-frame and a three-story wood-frame. Flames threatened other nearby structure and he struck a second alarm.

Firefighters stretched numerous handlines as they conducted primary searches of the buildings.

As the fire rapidly grew, Car 2 requested a third alarm and transitioned to an exterior attack.

Firefighters used three master streams from ladder trucks and multiple large handlines to knock down the fire.

Companies went back to an interior attack to overhaul and extinguish pockets of fire.

One firefighter was transported to a local hospital with a reported minor injury.

Two structures were destroyed and two suffered fire damage, leaving over 20 residents homeless.

Officials said the cause of the fire was the careless disposal of smoking materials.