(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A view from above shows the rubble of the Lanna Asian Market at left and the heavy damage to the other three businesses gutted by Friday's 2-alarm fire at 495 Amherst St., which is at the corner of Amherst Street, seen at top, and Thornton Road, at right.

NASHUA — Fire officials continue their investigation into Friday evening’s 2-alarm blaze that consumed most of a four-unit strip mall anchored by Lanna Asian Market, a large specialty foods store that suffered the brunt of the damage from the fast-moving flames.

Although at least two of the four businesses — Lanna, and Ciao’s Pizza & Subs shop — were open and occupied when the fire broke out, everyone was able to safely self-evacuate and no injuries were reported, according to Nashua Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Kevin Kerrigan, the incident commander.

A series of calls began coming in to the dispatch center at about 7:20 p.m., reporting heavy flames through the roof of the strip mall at 495 Amherst St., which is on the north side of Amherst Street at the corner of Thornton Road.

Kerrigan said a first-alarm response was dispatched, which brought four engines and two ladder trucks to the scene. The crew of Engine 5 out of the Pine Hill Road Station reported seeing an orange glow in the direction of the address just after they pulled out of the station.

Upon arrival, the crew confirmed heavy smoke and fire coming from the building, which prompted the sounding of a second alarm.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Flames and heavy smoke pour from the strip mall at 495 Amherst St. Friday evening.

That brought all on-duty Nashua personnel to the scene, which numbered 40 in all, Kerrigan said.

Firefighters from Merrimack, Hudson, Hollis, Tyngsborough, Londonderry and Manchester covered Nashua stations until crews began returning later in the evening.

Flames shooting 30-35 feet in the air began to envelop several power lines connecting the building to poles along Amherst Street. Some of the lines, still energized, caught fire, and began shedding burning material onto firefighters and their equipment.

In one case, burning insulation dropped onto one of the engines, and the flames burned through some of the hose lines. Crews immediately hosed the engine down, then pulled new sets of hose lines into service.

The crews on two ladder trucks set up “master streams,” which are large hose lines that are mounted onto the truck’s ladder and extending it above the fire without putting firefighters at risk.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) The damaged sign on what used to be the roof of the Lanna Asian Market is all that's recognizable among the rubble of the market, one of four stores damaged or destroyed by Friday's 2-alarm fire.

The bulk of the fire was knocked down about an hour after crews first arrived. But most crews remained on the scene for some time, hitting hot spots while awaiting the arrival of crews from Eversource.

The overhaul process also involved using power saws to cut through steel security doors to access pockets of fire.

Once the Eversource crew arrived and shut down the power lines, firefighters were able to finish extinguishing the lines as well as some tree branches that also took light before flames were brought under control.

Lanna Asian Market, meanwhile, has been in Nashua for nearly 20 years, the last 12 or so at 495 Amherst St., in the space formerly occupied by Peter’s Pharmacy.

Ciao’s is also a longtime tenant of the strip mall. On Friday, an employee mentioned to another that he smelled something burning. Thinking it could be food in the oven, they went to check — and suddenly realized much of the strip mall was ablaze.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Burning electrical wires posed an additional challenge for Nashua firefighters as they battled the 2-alarm fire at 495 Amherst St. Friday evening.

Telegraph contributor Jeffrey Hastings provided much of the reporting for this story.

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

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Members of a construction crew brought in over the weekend board up the doors and windows of the businesses in the strip mall that was heavily damaged by Friday's 2-alarm fire.