NASHUA, NH — All the staff members who were in a building at a New Hampshire mental health facility moments before a gas explosion Monday afternoon have been found and accounted for, according to fire officials.
About 40 people were in the Greater Nashua Mental Health facility when someone called 911 to report an odor of gas, State Fire Marshall Sean Toomey said. Firefighters were still investigating when the explosion happened and part of the building began to collapse, said Nashua Fire Chief Steve Buxton. He said the three injured firefighters were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Jashua Fire Chief Steve Buxton also shared that one of the three firefighters injured in the explosion was also already out of the hospital. The other two firefighters remained in the hospital but their injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
Firefighters first responded to the Greater Nashua Mental Health Center on Ahmherst Street around 2:15 p.m. after someone reported the smell of gas.
When firefighters were on scene, there was a gas explosion that set the building on fire.
“They were already working on evacuating the building, mayday was transmitted which is the firefighters call for help and we deployed the resources to rescue them and everybody we could from the building,” Buxton said.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office says they are investigating whether falling ice may have ruptured the gas line.
“We’ll be interviewing the first arriving firefighters that were here to determine if we can figure out where that explosion happened and why that explosion happened,” Fire Marshall Toomey said.
Fire officials also say the building typically has around 40 people working in it around the time of the explosion, but all were able to escape the building before the explosion.
Video from the scene showed firefighters dousing one of the wooden buildings with water as the top floor burned. Part of the roof can even be seen crumbling away.
The building is considered a total loss.
The incident prompted authorities to send an alert to nearby homes and businesses telling people to extinguish any burners or flames and to prepare to evacuate.
Many couldn’t help but think about the gas explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley in 2018.
“I used to work in North Andover and I switched jobs that same year. I switched jobs they had the issue with Columbia Gas there so that’s pretty frightening to think of that,” said Brandon Pierotti.
Police also asked residents and drivers to avoid the area around Amherst Street.
The gas company for the property, Liberty of New Hampshire, said crews are on-site and assessing the fire.
“Until further information is known, avoid the area and please follow all safety precautions as directed by the Nashua fire department and other public officials,” Liberty wrote on Facebook.
“I think the biggest safety message is if you smell gas, call 911 and get out,” Toomey said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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