Driveway-turned-garage fire knocked down before spreading to nearby woods, home

A garage fire on Monday, on Carriage Road, in Gilford, was quickly contained, without extending to the nearby home, or the dry woods behind it. Firefighters from Gilford Fire Department responded for a report of a garage fire at about 1:30 p.m. on July 27. Chief Steve Carrier said the homeowner was using a blowtorch to burn weeds from cracks in his driveway, and the fire moved into the closed, 2-car garage. The garage was being used as storage, and firefighters spent the afternoon clearing out hay, insulation and other items as they sprayed down hot spots. Carrier said the homeowner was putting out the fire with a hose when firefighters arrived, and crews were able to knock down the rest quickly after getting into the garage by cutting through the door. The home was only several feet away, and the other side was heavily wooded. “It was good that he left the door closed, because I think that really contained the fire,” Carrier said. “It never got going to the point that it extended or anything. Very, very lucky that it didn’t spread. Obviously accidental, but it’s been very dry. When it’s dry like this, everything dries out. Not just the grass and brush, everything.”

— Bob Martin