A tragic blaze that enveloped Manchester’s Executive Manor Apartments on Union Street on New Year's Day has claimed the life of a 5-year-old child, with reports confirming her passing after being gravely injured in the incident that already took one life and displaced ten families. The child was pronounced dead at a Boston hospital on Wednesday, according to WMUR.
Firefighters who responded on the scene confronted heavy flames on the third and fourth floors, as panic-stricken residents attempted to escape, some clinging desperately to balconies, some throwing children to safety below, the chaos encapsulating the severity of the situation, as reported by Boston 25 News. In total, seven individuals required hospital treatment for their injuries, with all except the young child having been discharged.
The details surrounding the deadly event remain sparse as investigations into the cause of the fire continue, a harrowing start to the New Year for a community now mourning the loss of two of its residents. An autospy on the young girl was completed by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, yet results are still pending, with the examination process hopefully bringing clarity to the tragic outcome.
