MERRIMACK, NH - Merrimack Fire Rescue responded to reports of a building fire at 28 Blossom Lane Tuesday.

The initial call came from a resident inside the townhouse that there was a fire on the second floor, and an additional call came from a neighbor reporting smoke from the back of the building at about 6:45 a.m. The resident was able to self-evacuate and await the arrival of the firefighters.

Firefighters from Merrimack and Nashua responded. The first arriving apparatus reported smoke from the rear of a two-story townhouse, which is part of a four-unit cluster of townhouses.

Crews stretched hose lines and quickly located the fire in a second-floor bedroom. They then began to suppress the fire. Crews pulled the ceilings to determine if there was any extension to the attic above or in the walls to adjacent units.

The fire was quickly knocked down and firefighters worked to eject smoke from the building, and opened windows for ventilation. Nashua Fire Rescue’s ladder truck was set up in front of the unit, and extended a ladder to the roof of the structure as a precaution.

The units have cinder block walls between the units preventing the fire from spreading to any adjacent units according to sources at the scene.

The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes, and neither the occupants nor the firefighters were injured.

Several fire departments responded with mutual aid to the scene and for station coverage to assist Merrimack.

The fire is being investigated by the Merrimack Fire Marshal’s Office, who will determine the cause and origin of the fire.

The occupants from the fire unit will not be able to reoccupy until significant repairs are completed.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news