Cause of the fire is suspicious, officials say
UPDATED 7:38 AM EDT Aug 07, 2016
MANCHESTER, N.H. —Manchester firefighters were on the scene of a three-alarm fire on Spruce Street late Friday night.
Crews arrived on scene just after 11:30 p.m. with initial reports of people trapped on the third and fourth floor of the four-story residence, said Al Poulin, Manchester's district fire chief.
Crews searched the entire building, but were unable to locate anyone in trapped inside, officials said.
Officials said the fourth floor was fully involved, with flames coming out of the windows.
Crews initially had issues getting to the building due to downed wires, Poulin said.
At one point, 75 firefighters were on scene.
"We are incredibly lucky that no one, firefighter or resident, was injured or killed tonight," Poulin said. "This was a very difficult, dangerous and hot fire."
Poulin said that the fire was so hot that some firefighters' gear was smoking as crews came out of the residence.
Officials said 19 people were displaced by the fire. Red Cross is assisting some residents; others are staying with family members, Poulin said.
Poulin said the cause of the fire appears to be suspicious.
