Dog and cat rescued from fire, Gilmanton home is destroyed

By ROGER AMSDEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILMANTON — A three-alarm fire heavily damaged a one-and-a-half-story ranch home off from Middle Route late Monday morning, rendering the home uninhabitable, according to Captain Dennis Comeau of the Gilmanton Fire Department.

He said firefighters were able to rescue a dog and a cat from the basement of the home after quickly knocking down the fire, which he said was burning through the front of the house when firefighters arrived.

The fire was reported at 10:35 a.m. by a neighbor of the 952 Middle Route home, who told dispatchers that the fire was coming through the roof. Comeau said a second alarm was called when firefighters en route to the scene could see smoke coming from the area before they arrived.

"It was well involved when we arrived. We were able to get a two-and-a-half-inch hose into the building through the front wall and blocked the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. Once we got water on it, we were able to knock it down quickly," said Comeau.

Gilmanton Police were the first to arrive at the scene and found the house totally involved in flames. Also responding to the initial call along with Gilmanton firefighters were units from Barnstead and Belmont.

Comeau said no one was at home when the fire broke out and that the owners of the property, whom he was unable to identify, were making plans for staying temporarily in an RV on the property.

No cause has yet been determined for the fire.

Gilmanton Police were first on scene of a fire on Middle Route in Gilmanton late Monday morning and found the house fully involved. (Photo Courtesy Gilmanton Police)

Firefighter Chris Griffin carries a dog which was found in the basement of a home which was heavily damaged by fire on Middle Route in Gilmanton Monday morning. (Photo Courtesy Gilmanton Police)