Cause of Harvard Street porch fire may be due to careless smoking
Fire officials estimate the damage at $30,000.
MANCHESTER, NH —An early-morning porch fire on Harvard Street may have been the result of “improper disposal” of smoking material.
At about 5:40 a.m. on Jan. 30 fire crews reported to 329 Harvard St. Upon arrival Engine 7 reported fire on the rear porch of a three-story wood frame building.
Three hoselines were advanced to the fire source, which had extended into the roof section of the rear second-floor apartment. Truck companies cut open the roof section and checked for further extension. The rear porch suffered heavy fire damage and the structure of the building was deemed unstable.
District Fire Chief Al Poulin estimated the damage at about $30,000. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, however preliminary findings point to improper disposal of smoking materials on the second-floor porch.
