> At a Glance
> – A New Hampshire dad says his son had no heartbeat for 45 minutes after a New Year’s apartment blaze
> – One man died and eight people were hospitalized in the Executive Manor Apartments fire
> – Ten families are now displaced as investigators hunt for the cause
> – Why it matters: A single midnight fire turned dozens of lives upside-down and left a child fighting for survival
A father’s worst nightmare unfolded in Manchester, New Hampshire, when an apartment fire swept through the Executive Manor complex minutes after midnight on January 1, leaving his young son clinically dead for nearly an hour.
The Father’s Account
Laka Aylisungu told WMUR-TV he was away when flames erupted. His family, asleep inside, barely escaped after neighbors had already fled.
> “He passed for 45 minutes,” Aylisungu said. “They had to do CPR, and now he is breathing a little bit.”
The boy was found unresponsive in a bedroom and airlifted to a Boston-area hospital, where he remains in very critical condition.
Casualties & Escape
State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said the three-alarm fire started on the third floor, blocking hallways and forcing some residents to jump from balconies.
- 1 fatality: 70-year-old Thomas J. Casey died of smoke inhalation
- 2 critical injuries: the child and one adult
- 8 total hospitalizations
- 10 families displaced
Ongoing Response
The American Red Cross is sheltering and feeding displaced residents while the State Fire Marshal’s Office continues its investigation into the cause and origin of the blaze.
Red Cross official Allyson Stanczyk said:
> “We are just trying to provide comfort care at the moment.”
Key Takeaways
- A child’s heartbeat was restored after 45 minutes of CPR following the New Year’s fire
- Ten households lost their homes in Executive Manor Apartments
- Investigators have not yet released a cause for the fatal fire
As the Aylisungu family keeps vigil at the hospital, Manchester begins 2026 mourning one lost life and rallying around a community displaced by a single devastating night.
