Northern Lakes Region Bureau
MEREDITH — Ideal conditions led to an outbreak of wildfires throughout the
region on Monday.
Brush fires were reported throughout the Lakes Region — on Union Avenue in
Laconia, Pleasant Street in Franklin, Route 3A in Hebron, Cotton Hill Road in
Belmont, Chaisson Road in Plymouth, Young Mountain Road in Sandwich and Birch
Pond Drive in Tilton.
Passing motorists are being credited with keeping a brush fire at bay which
threatened a cape-style home and barn at 300 Meredith Neck Road.
Deputy Fire Chief Andre Kloetz said the unidentified passers-by kept the fire
in check until firefighters were able to make the five- to six-mile trip down
Meredith Neck.
A rekindle of a brush pile, which was burned Sunday night at 305 Meredith
Neck Road, is being blamed for sparking Monday’s fire, which charred about seven
acres. High winds helped fan the fire that at one time jumped Meredith Neck Road
and continued to burn on the other side. The majority of the damage occurred in
the area of Lovejoy Sands Road.
Volunteer firefighters from Center Harbor, Holderness and Moultonboro helped
extinguish the fire by dragging in 1½-inch forestry hose and relying on a water
supply shuttled in by tanker.
Temperatures climbed into the mid- and upper 80s, making for extremely hot
conditions for the estimated 30 firefighters who helped battle the blaze.
"The conditions are extremely dry," said Kloetz.
While firefighters were still working to quell the fire, a second one was
reported at 34 Meredith Neck Road near the intersection with Blueberry Hill
Road.
According to Kloetz, a neutral power line was in contact with a large maple
tree. High winds caused a line of the three phase primary to hit the tree
sparking a fire. As the fire burned, bark and other flaming debris fell igniting
dry grass and spreading into a nearby field. The fire charred an estimated
20-foot by 40-foot area.
Kloetz said a mason from Northfield, who had a large chainsaw, assisted the
department with cutting down the approximately 42-inch diameter tree some 60
feet tall. A line crew from the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative put
insulation on the wires to shield volunteers from the energized power lines
while they worked to fell the tree.
Laconia firefighters who had been covering the Meredith Central Station came
to the scene and helped extinguish the fire.
In the wake of the rash of fires, Kloetz said the department has put a ban on
all outside burning until substantial rainfall helps ease the dry conditions.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Sandwich also battled a stubborn brush fire in a
remote area near White Oak Pond. Gilford firefighters covered the Sandwich
station.
