State Fire Marshal Says Falling Ice May Have Damaged Gas Line At Greater Nashua Mental Health: Follow-Up

NASHUA, NH — While all aspects of a gas leak, explosion, and fire at a Nashua commercial building on Monday afternoon are still under investigation, the state fire marshal believes ice damaging a gas line may be the cause.

According to Sean Toomey, the state fire marshal, Nashua fire and rescue teams were sent to the Greater Nashua Mental Health Center at 440 Amherst St. around 2:15 p.m. for a report of a gas leak. The caller reported smelling the gas and hearing a hissing sound.

“Minutes after the initial crews arrived and began an on-scene investigation, an explosion occurred, injuring three firefighters and causing the commercial building to catch fire,” he said. “As flames spread, mutual aid was requested from multiple surrounding communities for on-scene assistance and station coverage.”

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Due to safety concerns about the gas leak, city officials issued an emergency alert to wireless phones and urged residents and visitors in the area to refrain from using burners or other open flames. The alert, according to Info NH, hit phones in Hillsborough County outside the coverage area (Editor’s note: I also received an alert on my cellphone, which is located in Merrimack County).

The injured firefighters were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. About 40 people were evacuated from the building, Toomey said. Several roads were shut down, and utility crews were able to shut off the damaged gas line. The fire, he said, was under control around 6 p.m.

The fire marshal’s office responded and took over the lead of the investigation. Investigators believe everyone who was inside the facility at the time of the blast has been accounted for and is safe, Toomey said, adding, “There is no ongoing threat to public safety in connection with this incident.”

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

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