DERRY, N.H. (WHDH) - A fire that possibly started in a patch of mulch grew to engulf part of a medical building entrance in Derry, New Hampshire, according to officials.
Everyone inside the Overlook Medical Center was able to evacuate as smoke turned into a case of heavy flames damaging the facility’s front entrance.
“This woman started yelling ‘This is not a drill, everybody out!’ so people started filing down the exit way and it wasn’t chaotic – it was really controlled,” said Melissa Moriarty, who was inside the building when it caught fire.
The Derry Fire Emergency Communications Division received an automatic alarm from 6 Tsienneto Road at 3:22 p.m. Wednesday.
Derry Fire Chief James Richardson told 7NEWS that crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from a metal column by the entrance upon arrival at the scene.
The column, he said, created a challenge as the enclosed space made putting out the flames difficult, prompting a call for a second alarm.
“Those confined spaces are very difficult to get to, it’s very man power-intensive,” Richardson said.
Crews were eventually able to cut the column open to get at the flames, putting out the fire soon after.
The cause is still under investigation.
Richardson said one firefighter was treated for a case of minor smoke inhalation, but will likely be OK.
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