Two People Remain in Critical Condition As Investigators Look for Cause of Fire at Apartment Building on Union Street in Manchester
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE (January 4, 2026) – One person has died, and several people were injured in a Manchester apartment fire at a 32-unit building on Union Street.
Manchester officials are saying that the fire started around 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The fire department started to receive calls about the fire after someone noticed residents jumping out of the building to get to safety.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the incident to help all of the victims. In total, five people were hospitalized in the incident.
Two of them remain listed in critical condition. Sadly, one person has died due to their injuries. Laka Aylisungu is the father of one of the children listed in critical condition.
He told local reporters that his family was sleeping when the fire started. As many as 50 people have been displaced as a result of the blaze.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.
Liability for Manchester Apartment Fires
Property owners in New Hampshire have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This includes taking steps to protect residents in the event of a fire. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with their premises, they must take action. Failing to take action to remedy a dangerous condition could form the basis of a negligence claim in the event of a fire. What follows are just a few of the steps that a property owner should take to protect against fires.
- Fire Detection: Apartment owners should install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of the building and in all sleeping areas. There should also be carbon monoxide detectors in any unit where there are fuel burning appliances.
- Fire Suppression: Fire extinguishers should be installed in kitchens, garages, and other common areas.
- Electrical Safety: All of the electrical systems in an apartment building should be routinely inspected and maintained. This is particularly important for older buildings.
- Flammable Materials: Any fuel, solvents, or other chemicals should be stored in approved containers. These materials can act as an accelerant in the event of a fire.
- Egress: Apartment buildings should have clear exits and hallways that are unobstructed. Blocked doors and hallways can become a lethal hazard in the event of a fire.
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability in the event of a fire. This includes the company that manufactured any consumer device that may have been the source of the fire. A number of fires are caused by products with lithium-ion batteries. When a lithium-ion battery malfunctions, it can lead to a dangerous chain-reaction event that could cause a major fire or explosion.
Steps to Take After Manchester Apartment Fires
Residential fires remain a leading cause of preventable injury and death across New Hampshire and the United States, despite an overall decline over the last several decades. According to the National Fire Protection Association, “The 2023 estimate of fires in apartments or other multifamily structures was 47 percent lower than in 1980. Apartment fires fell 4 percent from 80,000 in 2022 to 76,500 in 2023, continuing an overall decline since 2020.” Certain actions should be taken after any apartment fire.
- Medical Treatment: Victims should seek medical treatment as early as possible. Smoke inhalation and burn injuries can cause major complications if left untreated.
- Building Records: All of the maintenance records related to the upkeep of the building should be carefully reviewed.
- Fire Source: The potential source of the fire should be investigated. Different entities could be liable for a fire depending on how it started.
- Legal Review: Any person injured in a fire should seek the guidance of an experienced Boston premises liability attorney. An attorney can review the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any residential fire. Victims are routinely left with major injuries and nowhere to live. They may also be left with high medical bills. Unfortunately, property owners will virtually never accept responsibility if one of their residents is injured in a fire. No matter how a fire started, this does not relieve an apartment owner of their obligation to follow fire safety codes. Any person injured in a fire may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through an injury claim. The surviving family members of any person who died may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Investigating New Hampshire Apartment Fires
We at DiBellaLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person who died in this Manchester apartment fire. It is our sincere hope that the other victims will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Many questions remain unanswered. Was this apartment building compliant with all fire safety codes? What was the source of the fire in the first place?
Have you or someone that you care about been affected by a New Hampshire apartment fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of experienced Boston premises liability attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here to help. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.