Fire at car dealership in Manchester spreads to nearby home

Firefighters battled a blaze at a used car dealership in Manchester on Friday morning that spread to an adjacent property.

Fire crews encountered heavy fire inside the building upon arriving shortly after 9:30 a.m. at Capitol Automotive at 369 Main St., according to the Manchester Fire Department.

The fire spread quickly and was complicated by combustibles that were inside the automotive shop, fire officials said. Heavy flames at one point were roaring out of the front of the building.

Fire officials said everyone inside the building was able to make it out safely. Nearly a dozen cars inside the building were on fire.

The fire moved so quickly that it was able to spread to a home next door to the car dealership. The residents were able to escape without injury, according to fire officials.

The walls of the automotive center were compromised by the intense heat and would likely need to be taken down by an excavator, according to fire officials.

The Manchester Police Department said part of Main Street and multiple streets in the immediate area were closed for an extended period of time while fire crews were on scene.

The fire may have been caused by welding, though the Manchester Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating, fire officials said.