MANCHESTER, NH – On March 14, Manchester Fire Department dispatch received a 911 call just after 2 a.m. indicating that a detached two-stall garage at the rear of 228 Sagamore St. was on fire.
Fire crews arrived two minutes after notification and encountered the 25-by-25 garage fully involved. Firefighters had to deal with numerous explosions coming from the garage as solvents, gasoline and liquid propane tanks were igniting and rupturing. The fire had extended to an adjacent passenger vehicle that was parked near the garage and the vehicle was also fully involved.
The fire was extending to the two-story residence which is 10 feet from the garage. Fire crews directed their efforts toward saving the home and its contents from significant fire damage. Crews advanced into the home to search for occupants and to push back the flames that were impinging on the home. The occupants had self-evacuated before crews arrived. Firefighters were able to rescue the family cat which was brought outside and handed to family members.
Damage to the building, owned and occpuied by William Stiles, is estimated at about $75,000. District Fire Chief Mike Gamache said at this time the fire is not considered suspicious.
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