Nashua Firefighters Injured, People Not Missing After Gas Leak Explosion On Amherst Street

NASHUA, NH — Three firefighters were injured after a building exploded on Amherst Street on Monday afternoon.

Just after 2:15 p.m., Nashua fire and rescue teams were sent to 440 Amherst St., the Granite Nashua Mental Health center, for a report of gas in the building. Firefighters investigated the leak and Liberty Utilities was contacted. Dispatch said the company would be at the scene in about 30 minutes, according to scanner chatter. About 15 minutes later, EMTs transported one person to the hospital and then a firefighter reported an explosion in the building.

“Mayday, mayday,” one firefighter was heard stating, “we have a gas explosion.”

A fire commander immediately requested a second alarm, which brought more firefighters to the scene. Fire was also reported on the outside of the building.

Firefighters laid hose out around 2:30 p.m. but held off on putting water on the building while other firefighters evacuated people from the center. Amherst Street was also closed to traffic.

Around 2:45 p.m., a third alarm was struck, with personnel being staged at the old Building 19 property. A fire commander also warned the building was compromised.

“I would suggest no one going in,” a firefighter said.

Firefighters were requested from Hollis, Hudson, and Merrimack.

Another firefighter told others the fire was “gas-fed” and Liberty Utilities was needed at the scene “immediately.” The fire, they said, was spreading in the back of the building.

“We have already notified Liberty,” another said, “They are responding.”

Around 3 p.m., a commander told others the Liberty team was at the scene.

Firefighters reported several dead hydrants in the area as they attempted to gain access to water to put out the fire. They also reported a search of the building accessible to firefighters had been completed.

Several people were reported unaccounted for, according to news reports online.

The city’s emergency management department issued a shelter-in-place alert to nearby residents just after 3 p.m.

HAPPENING NOW: CFPA New Hampshire member Jim Peruta @res23cue is on scene of a 4th alarm gas explosion in Nashua. @nashuafire #nashuagasexplosion pic.twitter.com/ON7XqPmXoh
— CT Fire Photo (@ctfirephoto) February" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/ctfirephot... 2, 2026

A fourth alarm was struck at 3:15 p.m., bringing in more firefighters from Dracut, Massachusetts, Londonderry, and Manchester. Tyngsborough, MA, EMTs also offered mutual aid during the event.

One firefighter reported gas in the rear of the building shooting straight up in the air, “full force,” according to scanner chatter.

At least three firefighters were injured from the Engine 5 team, and four people are unaccounted for, according to posts online.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who lives in the city, issued a statement saying she had been briefed on the explosion by the Department of Safety and local emergency personnel.

“Joe and I are praying for those injured and unaccounted for, and we are thankful for the heroic efforts by the Nashua Fire Department and first responders on the scene,” she said.

Emergency management informed residents around 5:30 p.m. that firefighters were still working the incident and that the area remained under control. Officials said it was safe for residents to be in their homes and it was OK to cook or use gas appliances.

Nashua Update: everyone inside the greater Nashua mental health center is accounted for tonight and OK…three firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the cause of the gas explosion is under an investigation #7News pic.twitter.com/st4YcwBwRQ
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) February" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/scooperon7... 2, 2026

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