Nashua, New Hampshire apartment fire that killed 2 men may have been intentionally set

Two men died early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out at a multi-family home in Nashua, New Hampshire. Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the flames were intentionally set.

It happened around 3 a.m. on Orange Street.

According to New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey, flames ripped through the second floor of the home that has up to eight units. Cellphone video showed flames shooting through the windows of the building.

Attorney General John Formella said nine people lived in the apartment and seven were able to escape on their own.

Scott Thomas, 66, was rescued by first responders, but later died at the hospital. Formella said 80-year-old Gerald Gutekunst was later found dead in an upstairs apartment.

Autopsies are being performed on Tuesday. Toomey said the men lived in separate units in the apartment building.

Initially Tuesday morning, Toomey said the fire was not considered suspicious, but added that arson dogs would be searching for signs of accelerants. Later in the day, Formella said Thomas and Gutekunst's deaths are now being investigated as suspicious.

"Investigators are examining all available information as part of the ongoing investigation, including whether this incident may have involved suicide by fire in which the fire then spread to cause the murder of another," Formella said in a statement.

The Attorney General said investigators became aware that Gutekunst was previously charged in Hudson, New Hampshire in 2019 after he was accused of arson and threatening violence. The charges were eventually dropped when Gutekunst was found not competent to stand trial. 

Formella said investigators are reviewing prior contacts between Gunekunst and public safety agencies to learn what led up to Tuesday's fire. They're also asking anyone who spoke to Gutekunst recently to call the Nashua Police Department at (603) 594-3500.

According to Toomey, if the deaths are confirmed to have been caused by the fire, that would bring the state total to 15 so far this year. That compares to 18 fire fatalities all of last year in New Hampshire.

"Unfortunately, we're seeing a lot of fatalities. This is the fourth double fatality we've had this year," Toomey said.

Witness Jose Ortiz said he was sleeping when he woke up and saw the flames at the neighboring building. He said he could hear someone screaming for help.

Toomey said it's too early to tell if there were working smoke detectors in the home.