MANCHESTER, N.H. — A aggressive, three-alarm fire tore through a building at 155 Myrtle St. on Friday afternoon, requiring nearly 100 firefighters to bring the blaze under control amidst challenging structural conditions.

Dispatchers first alerted crews at 3:13 p.m. to reports of a building fire at the intersection of Union Street and Myrtle Street. Upon arrival, first-responding companies encountered heavy fire extending to the roof along the Union Street side of the structure. The flames had already broken through the entrance and were rapidly spreading across the first floor.

Firefighters initiated a coordinated attack from both the front and rear of the building. However, suppression efforts were severely complicated by the building’s construction, specifically the presence of spray foam insulation, which allowed the fire to route through difficult-to-reach areas.

Recognizing the intensity of the blaze, Incident Commander Battalion Chief Robert Plantier called for a third-alarm response. The additional personnel worked exhaustively to conduct extensive overhaul operations across the building's second and third floors.

Crews officially brought the incident under control at 4:52 p.m., just under two hours after the initial call.

Incident OverviewDetails
Location155 Myrtle St. (Corner of Union & Myrtle St.)
Dispatch Time3:13 PM
Under Control4:52 PM
Alarm Level3rd Alarm
Estimated Damage$400,000
Casualties0 Civilian, 0 First Responder
Despite the size of the response and the heavy damage—estimated at $400,000—no injuries were reported among civilians or emergency service personnel.

The cause of the fire remains under official investigation. The Manchester Fire Department urges anyone with relevant information regarding the incident to contact the Fire Prevention Bureau.