No injuries in garage fire in Gilmanton

GILMANTON — There were no injuries in a large garage fire Monday night as firefighters battled the blaze in freezing temperatures with a large response from mutual aid companies.

Gilmanton firefighters responded to Loon Pond Road for a report of heavy smoke in the residence at 5:03 p.m. on Dec. 8. Luckily for homeowners, one of the firefighters lives on Loon Pond, and arrived to find a fire in the attached garage.

“One of our call persons was first on scene, and able to clear the building. He was able to report what he had via phone/radio,” said Fire Chief Paul Hempel III in a phone interview, adding the home was threatened by the fire.

With the cold temperatures and wind complicating response efforts, town firefighters called for assistance from neighboring communities. Arriving at the scene, firefighters entered through the home’s breezeway with a handline and sprayed the fire, keeping it contained to the garage.

“We knocked down the bulk of the fire and held [it] to garage space,” Hempel said. The residence was then ventilated.

The fire was deemed accidental and the point of origin was credited to a heat source similar to an engine block heater plugged into a vehicle in the garage. Hempel said the heater suffered “an unknown malfunction resulting in a fire starting in the engine compartment.”

The garage was moderately damaged, and the house sustained minor smoke and water damage. The car was destroyed.

According to the town’s tax map, the 1.5-story home has been owned by Drew and Bethany Taylor since 2015.

Due to weather conditions and the location of the residence, fire departments from Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Gilford, Laconia, Loudon, Pittsfield, Sanbornton and Loudon assisted in fighting the blaze.

“Cold conditions did play a part in our activity,” Hempel said. “We appreciate the assistance from our mutual aid partners.”

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.