Manchester, New Hampshire – A power outage in downtown Manchester led to a generator malfunction at 1000 Elm Street, resulting in a small fire that forced the evacuation of the building. The incident occurred on the 21st floor of the Brady Sullivan Tower, prompting a response from multiple fire companies just before 1 p.m.
Upon arriving at the scene around 12:50 p.m., firefighters were confronted with a generator explosion that had caused a small fire, later determined to be ignited by oil in the generator. Firefighters bravely climbed 21 flights of stairs with high-rise hose packs to address the situation, with one firefighter requiring hospitalization for lightheadedness shortly after.
A second alarm was requested to aid firefighters, as the generator on the 21st floor had completely failed mechanically, leading to a fire fueled by oil and fuel that produced significant smoke. Crews worked diligently to extinguish the fire and ventilate the building, ensuring the safety of the over 200 occupants in the building, which consists of luxury apartments and offices.
According to Chief Ryan Cashin, the building was eventually turned over to Brady Sullivan after the fire was brought under control. Eversource was also present at the scene to restore power to the building, with most customers regaining power within five minutes of the outage. Occupants were allowed to re-enter the building, although the elevators remained out of service.
The prompt response and coordinated efforts of the firefighters and emergency personnel helped contain the situation and prevent any major injuries or damage. The cause of the electrical equipment failure that triggered the power outage in the downtown area was attributed to a piece of equipment malfunctioning near Chestnut and Merrimack streets.
Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness and the swift action taken by first responders in mitigating potential disasters in the community.