Smoking materials were the cause of the fire that forced two people to jump from a burning apartment building in Manchester on Friday evening, according to investigators.

The fire broke out around 7:40 p.m. at a six-unit, four-story complex on 26/28 Sullivan Street, prompting a full response from the Manchester Fire Department and the deployment the city’s entire fire apparatus.

Investigators with the city’s fire department and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire was caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials” on a second-floor rear porch, according to a press release.

It took fire crews nearly three and a half hours to bring the blaze under control. The building sustained extensive damage and will now be demolished to ensure public safety.

During the firefighting efforts, thick smoke blanketed several blocks around the building, making it difficult for people in the area to breathe.

The two occupants who were forced to jump from a third-floor bedroom window as flames and smoke rapidly engulfed the building were rushed to hospitals in the Boston area due to the severity of their injuries. 

One is reported to be in stable condition, while the other remains in critical condition.

A firefighter and three police officers also received treatment for minor injuries at local hospitals. Some pets were rescued by their owners, but others either did not survive or remain missing.

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Gopalakrishnan reports on mental health, casinos and solid waste, as well as the towns of Bow, Hopkinton and Dunbarton. She can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com
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