Charred remnants of vinyl cladding still hang from the second-story windows of a Concord apartment building, the aftermath of last week’s destructive fire that tore through the 10-unit complex at 151 Manchester St.
Yellow caution tape flutters in the breeze, cordoning off the structure as residents pick through what’s left; they salvage what they can and toss waterlogged, smoke-damaged items into dumpsters.
Among the hardest losses was a life: A woman trapped on the second floor of the apartment building died in the blaze. She was identified as Darlene Phillips, 62, of Concord, by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal on Tuesday.
Phillips’ cause of death was ruled as carbon monoxide toxicity and thermal injuries. Officials determined the manner of her death to have been accidental, and their investigation into the fire remains ongoing.
Twelve other residents were displaced by the fire, which broke out on July 15. Since then, the American Red Cross has been on the ground helping survivors rebuild their lives.
John Montes, the Northern New England regional disaster officer with the Red Cross, said assistance has looked different for everyone.
“Some needed just to get into a hotel for the first couple of days. Some needed help with replacing critical items, health care items,” said Montes. “We’ve even had a couple of folks that said they didn’t want our assistance at all.”
In the basement of the building was Gen’s Dance Studio, where Gen Woodward has taught for the past eight years.
Most of the studio is now gone, ruined by smoke and water.
“I saved very, very little,” Woodward said, still in shock. “I lost all my equipment.”
Woodward found out about the fire from her granddaughter, who was driving nearby when she spotted fire trucks and followed them, only to realize they were headed to the building where her grandmother’s had her studio space.
Moments later, she sent Woodward a video of flames blazing through the windows.
After spending Monday and Tuesday clearing out what little was salvageable, Woodward is looking for a new space.
But she can’t stop thinking about her fellow tenants.
“I’m very, very heartbroken and sad that the lady died in her apartment. It was a loss of life, and very sad that families lost their apartment homes,” she said.
Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com.
