NASHUA, N.H. — A natural gas explosion on Monday has left three firefighters injured and destroyed a building housing the Greater Nashua Mental Health center, officials reported. The blast, attributed to a gas line damaged by falling ice, occurred shortly after firefighters responded to a 911 call about a gas smell at the Amherst Street site.
Around 60 individuals were inside the mental health facility at the time of the explosion. Authorities confirmed that one firefighter has been discharged from the hospital, while the two others remain admitted with serious, though non-life-threatening injuries. The incident escalated rapidly, as officials described the moment when firefighters entered the building to investigate the gas odor, leading to the explosion.
Initial investigations are focusing on the gas line linked to the Amherst Street facility. Crews from Liberty Utilities are working closely with investigators to pinpoint the cause of the line rupture. State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey emphasized the importance of interviewing everyone who was present in the building to identify where the gas concentration was highest.
Witnesses recounted the dramatic moments surrounding the blast, with one person describing hearing two distinct explosions while they were outside their car. Others reported feeling the shockwaves rattle nearby homes and businesses.
Footage from local media captured towering columns of black and gray smoke engulfing the structure, as flames consumed a significant portion of the building. By the end of the fire, the roof had collapsed entirely, with extensive damage evident on the exterior.
Firefighting efforts faced challenges due to temperatures hovering in the low 30s, which hampered operations during the incident. Ultimately, the Greater Nashua Mental Health building has been deemed a total loss and is located in proximity to the Somerset Shopping Center.
Authorities will continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the explosion, seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future as they work to support the injured firefighters and assess the impact on the community.