(Photo by NASHUA FIRE RESCUE) The helicopter that crash-landed at the Nashua Airport Monday lies on its side on a runway as police and firefighters work at the scene. The people on board suffered minor injuries, officials said.

NASHUA — Firefighters and other first responders began the day shift Monday morning with a working fire at the Northeastern Boulevard McDonald’s, and less than two hours later they were called to the Nashua Airport for a report of a helicopter crash on one of the runways.

The latter incident was reported to emergency dispatchers at 10:44 a.m., prompting a first-alarm response that included two engines, a ladder truck, an AMR ambulance and NFR’s crash-fire-rescue truck, CFR 1, according to Nashua Fire Rescue Deputy Chief James Kirk.

Engine 5 and CFR 1, both from the Airport Station on Pine Hill Road, were first on the scene, Kirk said, and Lt. Timothy Farrar, the incident commander, reported a helicopter lying on its side.

Farrar also reported that there were two occupants, and both had exited the chopper on their own.

It was determined both had sustained minor injuries, for which AMR personnel treated them at the scene.

One of the occupants was transported to a local hospital, Kirk added.

The occupants’ names and ages weren’t provided, nor was any information about the helicopter, such as the owner and whether the aircraft had just taken off or was in the process of trying to land when the crash occurred.

Preliminary information from personnel on the scene indicates that the helicopter was flying “at a very low altitude” just before it crashed, Kirk said.

He said that once the occupants began receiving treatment, fire crews examined the scene for potential hazards. They discovered fluids leaking from the helicopter, which they quickly controlled.

No other hazards were found, and the call was placed under control within 30 minutes of the initial call.

A preliminary examination — although “not a complete account of the damages to the aircraft,” Kirk said, showed that “damage to the tail section, cabin glass and main rotor was obvious.”

The circumstances, and cause, of the crash are under investigation by Nashua police, along with state and federal aviation personnel.

As for the McDonald’s fire, Kirk said crews were dispatched to the restaurant, at 3 Northeastern Boulevard, in response to a call from an alarm company that had received an alarm from the restaurant.

Two engines and a ladder truck were on their way when fire alarm dispatch received a 911 call from someone at McDonald’s stating there was a fire in the kitchen, Kirk said.

The first-arriving crew on Engine 6 reported smoke coming from the roof, which was later determined to be the kitchen exhaust hood.

The crew made its way inside and located the fire in the oil frying equipment, which had been partially extinguished, Kirk said.

Firefighters used a portable fire extinguisher to knock down and extinguish the flames, he added.

They then disassembled the ventilation system over the oil frying equipment to make sure the fire hadn’t extended into the structure itself.

Representatives of the city Fire Marshal’s office were called in to investigate and determine a cause of the fire.

The restaurant was open at the time of the fire, but everyone inside was able to evacuate without incident, and no injuries were reported.

Indications are that the restaurant closed for a period of time but was expected to reopen later in the day.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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