11 Displaced By Apartment Building Fire In Nashua

NASHUA, NH — Nashua Fire and Rescue teams were sent a building fire on Kinsley Street on Thursday that 11 people displaced and injured one firefighter. The fire was reported at around 7:45 p.m. When firefighters arrived, according to Deputy Chief Karl Gerhard, tenants in the building were knocking on doors to alert other occupants about the fire.

"Heavy smoke and flames" were visible from the building, coming from the right rear corner porches of the second floor, he said. The building, Gerhard added, was an irregularly shaped three-story building with the flames shooting up about two-stories high. A second alarm was signaled after about four minutes when firefighters found out that there might be a person trapped on the third floor and "due to the growing scope of the incident and current air temperatures which would tax crews rapidly," he said.

The bulk of the fire was put out in about 15 minutes. The call was deemed under control about 20 minutes later.

One firefighter was treated with a minor laceration by AMR Ambulance and returned to work the fire. There were no other injures, Gerhard stated.

The Nashua Office of Emergency Management assisted with the Red Cross to find shelter for some of the residents who will be displaced – 11 people and two pets. Four occupants and a dog required assistance in locating housing, Gerhard added.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Gerhard also offered a few tips for residents before a fire occurs. First, have and practice a family escape plan. And have a meeting spot outside of the building all know to go to and remain there. Do not re-enter a building on fire, he added.

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