NASHUA, N.H. --
Investigators were working to figure out what caused a 4-alarm fire in Nashua late Saturday that left 19 people, including five children, homeless.
Firefighters were called to 49 Spring Cove Road at about 9:55 p.m. for a reported garage fire.
Rob Pushor, president of the condo board, was the first to notice the flames and called 911. "I was in bed," said Pushor. "I thought I heard fireworks. I got up, came outside and the garage was fully engulfed."
Joanna Cobleigh was home when the flames broke out. She said her first priority was making sure her two dogs made it out safely.
"Very frightening, it was horrifying actually," Cobleigh said. "The dogs didn't want to leave the house, so it was pretty dramatic. As I looked out the window, the flames were just coming toward the bedroom window and it just went up, the whole place just went up quick."
When firefighters arrived, the flames had spread to the attached condo building with eight units.
"The fire had already taken hold in two units and was extending into a third," said Nashua Fire Chief Brian Morrisey. "The first two companies removed one resident from one of the units that was not heavily involved at the time."
Morrisey said he called out a fourth alarm in order to get enough manpower to the scene. He said the heat from the fire combined with the warm temperatures took a toll on firefighters.
The Red Cross was helping displaced residents find a place to stay Sunday morning. Officials with the Red Cross said several pets living in the condo building escaped safely.
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