No injuries in Gilford garage fire causing $150K+ in damages

GILFORD — There were no injuries in a fire Tuesday afternoon outside a home on Cat Path, though the blaze caused over $150,000 in damage.

Firefighters were called at 1:09 p.m. on Sept. 22, to investigate smoke on Cat Path. At the same time, another call reported a building fire on Cat Path.

The Laconia Fire Department was called “as automatic aid,” as they always assist for a reported building fire in Gilford, and vice versa. Laconia brought an engine and ladder. Gilford Police, and Alton, Belmont, Meredith, and Tilton-Northfield fire departments also responded to the fire with engines and personnel.

Fire Chief Stephen Carrier said they got a bit of a head start, as smoke was seen over the trees in the area. They originally thought the smoke was coming from a neighborhood of mobile homes on Old Lakeshore Road.

Gilford firefighters requested additional companies after arriving on scene, and reported a fire in the garage attached to the home.

Carrier said the resident was home earlier in the afternoon, but not at the time of the fire. The blaze started after he was torching weeds near the side of the garage, in the patio rocks. Carrier said it was not extinguished properly, resulting in flames spreading into the garage.

The fire remained in the garage and grass around it, and did not spread to the house. The three-bay garage was destroyed, along with the contents inside. A car in the bay closest to the house was totally destroyed. There were no injuries or further damage to the building.

Carrier said the resident was lucky his home was constructed well, as the sheetrock dividing the garage and home helped contain the fire to the garage.

“It is easy to ignite combustibles with a torch and that fire can spread rapidly. The guys did a great job holding the fire to the garage and knocking it down quickly,” Carrier said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

After the flames were put out, firefighters opened up the walls of the garage, taking the insulation out and ensuring it was extinguished completely, after searching the garage.

Carrier said there were no problems regarding water supply for the departments, and a tanker was on the scene supplying engines.

Carrier said the fire caused at least $150,000 in damages.