At the Greater Nashua Mental Health facility in Nashua, New Hampshire, authorities said a natural gas leak triggered an explosion and fire on Monday that injured three firefighters but did not harm the center’s occupants. State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said the incident began after a 911 call reported an odor of gas, and that roughly 40 people were inside the building at the time.
Nashua Fire Chief Steve Buxton said firefighters were still investigating when the explosion happened and that part of the building began to collapse. He said the three firefighters were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Toomey said all occupants evacuated safely after the gas odor was reported. The incident prompted authorities to issue an alert to nearby homes and businesses instructing residents to extinguish any burners or flames and prepare to evacuate as the emergency unfolded.
A resident, Jesci Larochelle, said in a text message that she was in her living room less than a half mile from the fire and felt her house shake like a tree had fallen. She said she began checking the house for damage after receiving the alert.
Buxton said the blast and fire came during a lengthy cold spell in the Northeast and that weather hampered efforts to get water to the flames. Officials also said the explosion appeared to have obliterated at least part of the building, with aerial footage showing flames and smoke billowing from rubble.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Nashua native, said she had been briefed on the explosion and offered thanks to the “heroic efforts” by firefighters and first responders. Authorities said firefighters were investigating when the blast occurred, and the incident followed a separate natural gas explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home late last year that killed three people and injured others.