Residents evacuated safely from Center Harbor fire last weekend

CENTER HARBOR — Multiple Lakes Region fire departments responded to a building fire in Center Harbor Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters from Center Harbor, Meredith and Holderness were dispatched to 46 Split Rock Drive, after receiving reports of a building fire at 1:17 p.m. on March 8, according to a press release. 

Dispatch employees told responding fire companies a caller stated her husband said there was a fire in the basement of the building, and asked her to call 911. The man was apparently inside the building at the time of the emergency call. 

Firefighters from Holderness arrived at the scene within minutes, and said a basement fire appeared to be contained to its room of origin. 

All occupants evacuated the premises safely.

Center Harbor Fire Chief Tyler Driscoll arrived at the scene soon thereafter with firefighters from Meredith Engine 4. They were followed by Holderness Engine 3 and Center Harbor Engines 1 and 3. 

Crews worked to extinguish and overhaul the fire, which was in the basement ceiling, while other firefighters worked to evacuate smoke from the first and second floors. Firefighters remained at the scene for about 90 minutes, Driscoll wrote in the release. 

“Staffed stations and automatic mutual aid were key in getting apparatus and crews to this incident as quickly as possible, helping to limit the extent of damage this fire caused,” Driscoll wrote. “The home did have working smoke detectors, which are crucial to provide early warning of a fire both day and night.”

Sandwich Fire Department provided Center Harbor coverage during their response.