Pizza Box Probable Cause of South Main Street House Fire

Firefighters responded to a fire at a two-family home on South Main Street Friday afternoon that led to the evacuation of 11 people from the residence, but quickly contained the blaze without any injuries.

According to the Manchester Fire Department, 17 firefighters responded to numerous 911 calls reporting a fire on the exterior of a house at 142-144 S. Main St. at approximately 11:45 a.m.

Firefighters arrived to find a fire running up the exterior wall of the house; 11 people were inside the home at the time of the fire, but all were able to evacuate without injury.

Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the fire on the outside of the house, although it did burn through into the interior rooms of the two-family home before it was fully extinguished.

A preliminary investigation determined that the fire likely started in a trashcan pushed up against the side of the house, which appeared to have been caused by a discarded smoldering pizza box.

The home was declared uninhabitable, according to the department, and the Red Cross is assisting the residents with temporary housing.

Helen Hartley, a Windsor resident, is listed as the owner of the home.