A natural gas explosion in a building for mental health services in southern New Hampshire sparked a fire on Monday and forced emergency crews to warn nearby residents to evacuate the surrounding area.

The building houses a Greater Nashua Mental Health facility that handles deaf services, new clients, general and older adults, and substance misuse services, according to the center's website. A state emergency alert went out warning about a potential gas leak after the explosion and urged anyone in the near vicinity to extinguish burners and other flames.