2-Alarm Fire Displaces Several People From Multi-Unit Building On Somerville Street

Several calls came in at about 3:00 p.m. of a reported building fire at 741 Somerville Street July 19, 2024. Simulatenously someone ran to the fire station just down the street from the fire to report smoke coming from the building.

Manchester Fire crews from station 7 arrived in about one minute and encountered heavy smoke coming from the front side of the building on floors two and three. A working fire was called, and quickly a second-alarm was added due to the size of the building and amount of fire.

When crews surveyed the building they discovered a massive volume of smoke and fire forcefully blowing out the second floor windows onto the porches and engulfing the third floor porch and roofline.

Other companies stretched backup hand lines as well as a line to the porches and quickly knocked the fire down. All three ladder trucks were able to set up on the building and began extensive exterior over haul to the roof and porches.

The building had 5 units and housed 8 adults and 4 children, no civilians were injured. Crews operating in the building were able to save 3 cats and a dog, but unfortunately 2 cats did perish in the fire. Several reptiles were able to be safely removed from the building by firefighters.

One fire fighter suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalization. Under control was issued at 3:47 p.m.. Companies broke down and cleared, turning the property over to property management.

Several fire departments from the area responded for station coverage and responded to calls while covering for Manchester.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Manchester Fire Marshal’s Office. A tenant from the apartment where the fire appears to have started told Manchester Information that she was home and heard a “popping sound” from the stove before what she described as saying it then burst into flames. She also noted that the gas company had