MANCHESTER — Authorities suspect arson in a fire that gutted a vacant, three-story apartment building on Green Street on Wednesday night.

“It is suspicious,” Fire Chief James Burkush said. “We're looking into the cause.”

The two-alarm fire at the 248 Green St. building was reported about 9:20 p.m.

Firefighters found the second floor “completely engulfed” in flames when they arrived, Burkush said.

The building is bordered by another apartment building and a playground at the corner of Beech and Green Streets, across from Beech Street School.

“The main objective was to keep the fire from spreading” to the neighboring building, Burkush said. That building suffered some exterior damage, including melted siding, but was inhabitable Wednesday night, he said.

The department called the fire under control about 11:15 p.m.

Diana Dussault, who lives in an apartment across the street at 255 Green St., said she was watching a movie when “it almost sounded like eggs smashing on my window.”

She said she called 911 “and a few minutes later, we have a show.”

Dussault said the building has been abandoned for about two months.

She said she has seen kids breaking windows at the building and has reported the incidents to police.

Anyone with information about the fire, which is being investigated as arson, is asked to call the Fire Department's arson tip line at 644-3473.

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