City blaze leaves eight homeless
By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 Share on Facebook
MANCHESTER – Eight people are temporarily homeless after a two-alarm fire late yesterday morning caused about $150,000 in damage to a three-unit apartment building on the east side of the city.
The fire department was called at 11:06 a.m. after smoke was spotted coming from the first floor of 282 Myrtle St., a three-story apartment building at the northeast corner of Myrtle and Russell streets.
The fire spread to the second and third floors, where flames burned wood shingles underneath a slate roof, according to District Fire Chief Jim Michael.
Phyllis Graham lives with her husband and three of her four children on the side of the apartment building where the fire started. She arrived home to find fire trucks surrounding her home and firefighters on the roof, chopping at the slate roof to get at flames hiding underneath.
Graham suffered an anxiety attack and was treated with oxygen at the scene.
She said fire officials told her the blaze started in her kitchen on the first floor. They asked her if she left the stove on, but she said the stove wasn't used this morning.
No one was home when the fire broke out, but members of a Central High School gym class didn't know that.
According to parent Stephanie Hughes of Manchester, students in a gym class taking a 45-minute walk around the city saw smoke and called 911 on their cell phones, then ran to the building knocking on windows and doors to alert anyone inside.
"I am an extremely proud mother," said Hughes, whose daughter, Taylor Wagner, called her at 11:17 a.m. to tell her about the fire and the students' actions. "They could have saved a life had anyone been in the house."
Hughes explained that because of problems with the high school's gymnasium, damaged when the roof leaked, gym classes consist of 45-minute walks about the city.
But physical education teacher Christina Allen said she and colleague William Lawson made sure the students were a safe distance from the fire.
"The children were not jeopardized at all," she said last night. "None of them went near the building. They weren't even on the same side of the street."
They did call 911 on their cell phones, she said.
District Chief Michael said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. He said the building is salvageable, but with an estimated $150,000 in damage, is not presently inhabitable.
The Red Cross was called in to assist residents.
The three-family, three-story apartment building, built in 1890, is owned by Scott A. MacDonald, according to the assessor's online database.
Click on the video below for reaction from the scene:
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Please join us tonight from 8-12 at Jillian's, Manchester. Come socialize and bring a donation for the Graham family.
- Susan C. Magaletta, North Andover
To Phyllis, Russ, your children, Ian and Lauren, my heart is heavy for you all right now. I lived in this building for almost 15 years. It will always be home and apart of me and I mourn your losses along with you... I, just like Heather, spent much time over the years helping maintain the integrity of this building and working with the landlord who is like family to me, making improvements. He always did the right thing when things needed to be repaired or upgraded, for this I had much confidence in him. I am sorrowful this unforseen circumstance happened but am so relieved you are all okay!
- Tracy, NH
We are in a world where people frequently complain about a lack of caring and compassion from others. Why is it then you are criticizing students from the central part of the city when they ARE compelled by compassion? I am proud of these kids and their actions - it proves yet again that sometimes kids can be better members of the community than the embittered adults.
Take a minute this morning and look in your mirror - when was the last time you actually DID something to help someone else, especially someone you do not know? When you get home tonight go through your house and see if you have some clothes, furnishings, blankets, unopened toiletries - pack them up and drop them off at the Red Cross or Families in Transition. Not to single out just 2 - there are many other organizations in town that you can choose from.
- Deborah, Manchester
There's always a reason why Manchester doesn't repair a building. Just think if those great students were inside for their gym class and not walking the streets getting some great fresh air, the situation with the building fire would have been quite different.
To the fire victims, sorry for your loss. To the city of Manchester, thanks for not fixing the roof of the gym.
- Russell Maple, Manchester NH
In a time where most adults would just walk away or wait for someone else to do something, these kids didn't hesitate to do the right thing.
Thank You CHS students!
- Domenic, Manchester
I think those Central students should be commended for doing what they did. And personal thanks to the morons who failed to fix the leaky roof at Central. Otherwise our Central Heroes wouldn't have been outside. This type of quick thinking is just typical of the high caliber of students at Central. They should have a ceremony commending them, and perhaps a presentation by the Board of Alderman. It could be easily arranged because, as you know, Central is best at everything and no opportunity to amplify that fact is, nor should ever be ever missed. Yes, heroes. I'm so proud.
- Rob B., Manchester
I myself was one of the students who was in the walking class and Catherine is completely correct. We were walking in gym for cardiovascular activity (and yes the two teachers were located amongst the line of the gym class, not at the front because there were two classes combined together making it too hard to see everyone from the front) and happened to walk past the house. We saw the smoke and decided to take that chance to save other's lives. Luckily no one was home and the teachers told us to go across the street out of the way of any danger. The teachers did nothing wrong. If anything they should be thanked for what they did.
- Aura, Manchester
To all of those who sent regards for the lives of these families, thank you. I am the daughter of the landlord. I spent many years working here, painting, cleaning, etc. My father is a respectable landlord who always updates and remodels in order to meet codes. My family is proud of all the work they have done to preserve this historical building and utilize it for housing for the Manchester community. Fires happen, and it's a tragedy. I'm glad no one was hurt. Things are replacable, but people are not. God bless those families and mine.
- Heather, NH
Last time I checked High School kids were capable of walking down the street without adult supervision.
Good on them for trying to help instead of being pathetically risk averse.
Contrary to your Hollywood education, not every building on fire will explode. If you happen to Google Street View the address you will also see it's not exactly a neighborhood of rundown firetrap triple deckers.
- Mick, Merrimack
Ed - the students walk at different paces, if you ever happen to see one of these walks as I do you would see that they stretch out a block or two. It's not logical for the teacher to be walking at the front of the line, as they would not be able to see any students behind them. Most likely the teacher was walking towards the back of the line so they could look ahead to watch the students.
- Catherine, Manchester
This is a tragedy and that should sum it up. I used to live there and it was a great apartment with wonderful memeories. Let's keep our thoughts/comments and prayers to the families who just lost their homes. I thank the students who were courageous and am glad they were not injured.
PS: last time I checked walking is cardiovascular.
- JB, Goffstown
How about instead of wondering why the gym class was not doing cardiovascular activities ouside (walking is a cardio workout by the way)...how about you think about the unfortunate people who may not have a home. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.
- Jami, Rochester
Dave, the building likely predates any building codes...it may behoove you to learn about them, when they came into existence and what was grandfathered. Start a knowledge campaign to teach people where not to live.
Ed, why don't you start a drive to get the funds the school needs?
ME? I will just continue to chuckle at the comments on UL...
- Gary, Stratham
ED - you're unbelieveable!! Hats off to those kids for doing the right thing. Thank goodness no one was home, and most of all thank goodness it wasn't you there but those kids!
- Chris, Manchester
Omg- you trolls. Your commenting on a triple decker and kids not doing cardio. How about a thank you to the students....someone could have been in that house, or on deaths door. ANd you guys are chatting about this other stuff. How about trying to get together some things for the displaced families...its disappointing how selfish so many people are. To the victims of the fire, I am sorry for you loss.
- RPc, manchester
A firetrap triple-decker in Manchester? (Who allowed that roof?) Gee, that's rare.
- David Goss, Manchester
Students were allowed to approach an active fire during a "gym class" stroll? Where was the teacher? First- spectators should not approach an active fire, since explosions occur. Second- today is a beautiful day- why weren't the students actually doing cardiovascular?
- Ed, Manchester