Cat dies in large Franklin house fire on Tuesday

FRANKLIN — One person sustained minor injuries and a cat died in a house fire on Tuesday evening on East Bow Street. The fire displaced multiple families living in four apartments in the building.

A call to 911 was made at 6:33 p.m., and the bulk of the fire was put out in 15 minutes. Smaller fires within the structure took hours to extinguish. After the Franklin Fire Department arrived at the scene, according to a press release, Fire Chief Mike Foss immediately called for additional aid, after witnessing heavy fire on one side of the building, and observing occupants jumping from the porch roof off the second floor.

One resident’s cat died in the fire. There were no other fatalities, but a civilian was injured helping people off the porch. The civilian transported himself to Concord Hospital-Franklin. Two people were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.

Ava Gallagher lives in one of the apartments with her boyfriend Blake McInerney and his mother Morgan. She is glad everyone made it out safely.

“What matters most is always that everybody made it out alive,” she said. “Things are replaceable, people are not.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“The occupants were very lucky. The fire blocked their main path of egress out of the building and spread very quickly,” Foss wrote in the release. “It is important for families to have, and discuss, multiple exit plans during fire emergencies. Additionally, please ensure that you have working some detectors.”

She said she was on a break from her job at Fratello’s Italian Grille in Laconia when she saw a text message and a missed call from Blake.

“Obviously, I yelled to my manager, ‘My house is on fire.’ I ran out the front door, [and] called Blake right away,” Gallagher said. “Probably one of the scariest moments of my life.”

Gallagher said Blake saw smoke coming up through the floor. He then put his cats in a cage and went looking for his dog, Boston. With no luck, and unable to leave through the front door, he smashed a window in his mother’s room and screamed for help. A nearby Good Samaritan took the cats in the cage, and Blake escaped.

Boston was later rescued by firefighters. Gallagher said Boston is Blake’s best friend.

“I don't know what Blake would have done if we lost Boston,” she said. “That is Blake's whole world.”

According to Deputy Chief David Hall, the second floor of the house is likely unsalvagable, and the first floor received significant fire damage. Nearby companies were called to help due to heavy fire, and the fact high temperatures and humidity quickly exhaust fire crews, requiring more people to extinguish the blaze. Reports of potentially trapped residents also prompted a large emergency response. Franklin and Tilton-Northfield fire crews searched for additional occupants in the home and rescued several pets.

Franklin was assisted on scene by Bristol, Sanbornton, Belmont, Hill, Concord, New Hampton, Andover, Laconia and Gilford departments. Boscawen Fire and Penacook Rescue Squad provided station coverage.

Gallagher said practically everything she, Blake and Morgan owned was lost in the fire. The three are currently staying with family. A GoFundMe campaign, titled “Help Ava, Blake & Morgan Rebuild After Fire” was started by Gallagher’s mother, and over $6,000 had been raised as of Wednesday afternoon, with a $20,000 goal.

Staff of the Franklin Welfare Department and American Red Cross are assessing how to provide short-term aid to the residents. Franklin nonprofit Thrift Clothes Closet is planning to help the residents and is acting as a drop-off point for clothing and other essentials like shampoo. President Kathy Fuller said the thrift store has been assisting those in the Franklin, Tilton and Northfield area for over 25 years.

“Community will take care of its own,” Fuller said. “It's obvious that they need some support. We're here for them.”

Gallagher moved in with Blake a couple of months ago, after graduating from high school. She is enrolled at Plymouth State University to study criminal justice, with the aim to become a police officer. Blake is studying at Lakes Region Community College in the fire sciences program to become a firefighter EMT. He has already completed ride-alongs with the Franklin Fire Department, and EMT training.