Suspicious fire destroys Spaulding Building at State School

LACONIA — Fire departments from across the Lakes Region helped put out a blaze that destroyed the Spaulding Building at the former Laconia State School property early Sunday morning. Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention Louis Loutrel called the fire suspicious, and said it is under investigation. No one was injured.

Loutrel said at 2:50 a.m. on June 14, Laconia Fire was called to investigate an outside fire on Right Way Path. Responding companies found half of the building on fire, with flames coming from the roof and windows. Backup was requested at 3:09 a.m., and it took about 20 minutes for firefighters to find the source.

A statement from Laconia Fire said when the crew with Engine 1 arrived first, they found a large, vacant three-story building with heavy fire. Backup was called due to the size of the building, and the distance to the closest water supply.

The water supply came through a pressurized hydrant near the entrance of Right Way Path, and 1,700 feet of supply hose with several engines boosted the water pressure. The fire was brought under control quickly, mostly by Ladder 1, and did not spread to any surrounding woods, brush, or buildings.

“The quick coordination between several departments to establish a sustained pressurized water supply allowed us to stabilize the emergency quickly,” said firefighter Chris Griffin, in the release.

Loutrel said crews saw a glow from Old North Main Street, and when they arrived, firefighters found it was coming from a building. He said the brick contained the fire to the structure, and around 10 a.m. on Sunday, smoke could still be seen coming from the collapsed roof.

“The wrecking crew is coming in to demolish it, because of the support beams, the big thick beams collapsed in,” Loutrel said. “That structure, right now, is very unstable. They are going to collapse it in, so that it isn’t a safety issue.”

The smell of smoke reached the start of Right Way Path, adjacent to Robbie Mills Sports Complex, and smoke could be seen above the tree line at 10 a.m. approaching the building. The building was about a mile down the narrow road. The entire roof was missing and caved in. The area was blocked off with police tape.

Debris could be seen smoldering inside the building, as Loutrel, Chief Tim Joubert, City Manager Kirk Beattie and Deven Spears of Spears Brothers Building Wreckage talked nearby.

Loutrel pointed out the roof and floor that collapsed, saying a lot is heavy timber which will smolder for some time. Loutrel expected the smoke to continue.

“Pretty much the entire inside of that brick shell is destroyed,” Loutrel said.

Laconia Fire was helped by departments from Belmont, Franklin, Gilford, Meredith, Sanbornton, Tilton-Northfield, and Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid. Center Harbor, Gilmanton, and Meredith EMS provided station coverage.

The building was demolished around 1 p.m. on Sunday, as the debris continued to smoke. The pile was still smoldering Monday morning, and Loutrel said this would likely last for days. An employee for American Alliance Security, the company contracted by the state to watch the property, was at the scene on Monday, and warned to not get too close, because there had been an explosion at about 3 a.m. The staff member said the noise was heard all the way at the 911 Dispatch Center.

Loutrel confirmed there was a small explosion, likely a compressed gas cylinder in the basement.

“Because the pile of rubble has been smoldering, anything stored in the basement that was still down there could explode,” Loutrel said, noting this was likely the cause, because there were no utilities connected. “Depending on how big the cylinder was, it could let off a big sound.”

Loutrel said there were no issues during the demolition of the building.

The New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation, assisted by Laconia Police.

“They were out yesterday and gathered information they needed, and are still conducting their investigation right now,” Loutrel said.

Tyler Dumont, spokesperson for the Fire Marshal’s Office, said a report is forthcoming.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Loutrel said it is difficult to get in to determine the origin, because the building is unstable.

“It is suspicious,” Loutrel said. “The building doesn’t have any electricity or any utilities. It was the middle of the night. So, it is considered suspicious and undetermined.”