MANCHESTER, N.H. – New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Manchester Fire Chief Ryan Cashin and Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr announce that one person was killed and multiple others were injured in an early morning fire at a multi-family apartment building in Manchester.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, members of the Manchester Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation at the Executive Manor apartments at 567 Union Street. Additional callers stated the building was on fire and indicated residents were jumping out of windows, off balconies and from fire escapes.

Officers with the Manchester Police Department arrived at the scene first and immediately began helping tenants get out of the burning building. As the initial fire crews arrived moments later, they saw heavy fire coming from the building’s third and fourth floors up to the roof. Firefighters then began an immediate search of the building’s 32 units and began efforts to knock down the flames.

During their search of the fourth floor, firefighters found an unresponsive child in a bedroom, and an unresponsive adult male was also located in a hallway. The child was taken out of the building through a window and brought down an aerial ladder, where they were transported to a nearby hospital. The child was ultimately transported to a Boston hospital, where they remain in critical condition. The adult male was taken out of the building down a stairwell and lifesaving measures were attempted. The adult male was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The fire was ultimately declared under control at 1:56 a.m. While battling the flames, the Manchester Fire Department received assistance from agencies in multiple surrounding communities, including Bedford, Merrimack, Derry, Londonderry, Hooksett, Concord, Nashua, Hudson, Allenstown, Pembroke, Auburn, Litchfield, Salem and Goffstown.

The name of the adult male victim is being withheld pending an autopsy scheduled at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In addition to the child who was taken to Boston, an adult female resident has also been transported to a Boston area hospital with critical injuries, and at least five other residents are at local hospitals with serious injuries. The full extent of injuries as a result of the fire remains under investigation.

As many as 50 people have been displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross and the building’s landlord are providing assistance. The First Baptist Church on Union Street also provided temporary shelter.

Investigators with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office have responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire, in conjunction with investigators from the Manchester Fire Department. While residents are still being interviewed and the investigation is in its early stages, at this time, investigators believe the fire started in a third-floor apartment bedroom. The fire is not considered suspicious.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

No further information is available at this time.