No injuries after embers from unextinguished campfire cause Cotton Hill brush fire

BELMONT — About an acre of land was torched on Sunday, and an investigation showed it started after wind spread embers into the field from a campfire, which failed to be extinguished about a week ago.

A neighbor of a house on Cotton Hill Road called 911 about the brush fire at 1:22 p.m. on April 12, and upon arrival, Lt. Richard Raper said there was a big fire in an area, about 200 by 200 feet. The property owner was at work, but came back to the house when notified about the fire.

Raper called immediately for backup and additional water supply, and departments from Gilford, Gilmanton, Laconia, Loudon, Sanbornton and Tilton arrived with forestry apparatus. Gilmanton, Loudon and Sanbornton came with tankers, as well.

“I instructed my crew to take a handline to the right side, and we sent another line down to the left to contain it,” Raper said. “To contain it, we create a circle around the fire, and meet in the middle.”

Raper said there were four handlines used, with the water source from a hydrant at the bottom of the road. Water was abundant, with more than 6,000 gallons on hand. The fire was contained quickly, within a half an hour, but crews remained on scene until 5:30 p.m. for clean up, and were back in service at 6:30 p.m.

Alton covered for Belmont with an ambulance, Canterbury Fire covered the station.

Raper commended the work of the departments in Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association, saying they did a great job containing the fire with no injuries or structural damage reported.

“There was no damage to anything,” Raper said. “It was all wildland. All the mutual fire aid partners worked really hard, efficiently, came together and completed the task.”

The property was located in a rural area, but does have residences fairly close by.

The closest property was about 100 feet from the blaze, and fortunately, the wind was in their favor.

“Luckily, the wind wasn’t blowing the other way. And also, the residents did a good job maintaining their property, so it didn’t spread to the house,” Raper said.

Conditions are extremely dry right now despite a snowy winter, and Raper expects this to be an active season for outside fires. He praised the residents in this case for keeping their leaves and bark mulch away from their home, which are huge fire hazards.

This fire was caused by a nearby campfire put out last week, but the wind kicked up some embers and spread them across the neighboring property, Raper said.

“It was deep in there and kept burning, and they couldn’t see it,” Raper said. “Make sure, with campfires, to dig it out and soak it up good.”

Raper said if a fire does occur, call 911 immediately, instead of trying to extinguish the fire.

“A garden hose definitely wouldn’t have taken care of this,” he said. “So, early notification through 911 is imperative.”