MANCHESTER, NH – First responders were dispatched to multiple calls reporting a fire at 771 Grove St. on Monday at 7:08 a.m. Firefighters were advised the building was a duplex and when they arrived, fire and smoke were showing.
Firefighters needed to dig out snow from hydrants and hook up hose lines while other crews made entry into the building. They were immediately faced with what was described at the scene as “extreme hoarding” conditions.
Crews were able to quickly verify that all occupants were out of the residence, and began fire suppression operations.
A second alarm was requested for manpower due to the extreme conditions.
Crews knocked down the fire within about 15 minutes, and were doing overhaul when additional fire was discovered in the large amount of material in the house.
Firefighters worked to remove items from the house so that they could access the source of the fire and extinguished it.
Eversource and Liberty Utilities were called to the scene to shut off utilities to both duplex units.
The American Red Cross was summoned to the scene to assist the adults and children displaced from the fire. The most significant damage was to 771 Grove which is the right side of the duplex.
The fire is being investigated by the Manchester Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office, at this time the source and origin have not been released.