Fire Guts home under construction

GILFORD — The N.H. State Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause of a three-alarm fire that gutted most of a $1-million home Saturday evening.

The building, which was still under construction, was the dream home of Linda and Paul Lian who retired last year and relocated to New Hampshire from their native Connecticut.

"We'll have to take it day by day," said Linda Lian when reached by telephone Monday morning.

She said that her son Matt, a senior associate architect with Mark Finlay Associates in Southport, Conn. had designed the home especially for her and her husband.

She said they bought the land six years ago and had spent 35 years vacationing in New Hampshire until they moved here last year.

"If we are lucky enough to rebuild we will build the exact same home," she said.

Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Carrier said the blaze was reported to firefighters at 6:04 p.m. Saturday. He said the initial call said the smoke was from Shore Drive but the location was immediately corrected to Belknap Point Road.

Call firefighter Marty Barrett was the first to arrive and said the building was well-involved. A first alarm was called followed by a second alarm when firefighters arrived.

Carrier said water was drafted from Lake Winnipesaukee at a pumping station established at the Belknap Point Hotel. He said a third alarm was called to help with water and manpower.

He said Laconia's ladder truck and a fireboat from Gilford were invaluable in bringing the blaze under control within 90 minutes.

The home is a post-and-beam style with an open interior and Carrier said this contributed to the fire spreading quickly.

No one was at the house as it was still under construction. There was a temporary electrical panel set up in front of the house but, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Bob Donnelly, it was unclear if the wires ran to the house or had yet to be connected.

Linda Lian said workers were there "on and off" and she really wasn't sure about the last time they were there.

Donnelly said his investigation began Sunday and he is so far listing the cause and "undetermined."

"I'm only one day into my investigation," he said adding he had interviewed a number of people, including some of the contractors, but has yet to reach a determination.

Lian said she is grateful for all the efforts of the local fire departments and said the important thing is that no one was injured.

"I guess I'm still in shock," she said.