Fire destroys home in Center Harbor, residents alerted by smoke detectors

CENTER HARBOR — The residents of a local home were able to escape safely from an early morning house fire on Friday, thanks to working smoke detectors.

A fire at a house at 127 McCrillis Hill Road was reported at 1:51 a.m. on Jan. 3. The first crew to arrive came from Holderness, with Ashland and Meredith also assisting Center Harbor in responding to the scene.

The fire was advanced by the time firefighters arrived, but all residents and pets had already been evacuated. Crews used a dry hydrant at Hawkins Pond to fuel the attack on the fire, which caused “severe damage” to the home, according to a press release written by Center Harbor Chief Tyler Driscoll. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to other buildings on the property such as a nearby barn.

Under the conditions, including high winds and the challenge of accessing water, additional assistance was requested to combat the fire, which brought in crews from Meredith, Sandwich, Moultonborough, Laconia, New Hampton, Gilford, Belmont, Tilton-Northfield, Campton Thornton, Plymouth, Gilmnton, Sanbornton and Bristol. Stewart’s Ambulance Service and Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid provided assistance at the scene. Tuftonboro Fire Department provided station coverage. Additional support was provided by Center Harbor and Meredith police, State Police, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Center Harbor and Holderness public works departments and the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

After three hours, the fire was brought under control. No injuries were sustained during the course of the incident.

The American Red Cross and a local hotel provided emergency shelter for the displaced residents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Driscoll wrote in the press release the event could have turned out differently.

“This incident underscores the importance of having working smoke detectors in homes and checking them frequently to make sure they are functioning properly,” Driscoll wrote. “Given that this fire started in the middle of the night while occupants were sleeping, this incident could have had a tragic outcome if they had not been alerted by the alarms.”