Staff Writer
CENTER HARBOR — A man who fell asleep early
Sunday morning while smoking received minor burns
when he attempted to put out the fire in the chair
in which he was sitting.
The fire spread rapidly, prompting the fire
department to go to a second alarm.
Fire Chief Scott Davis said Michael Eldridge,
51, the only occupant of the 16-room apartment
building, woke up to find his chair afire.
"He attempted to get the chair out the door and
it got stuck in the doorway. Fire burned though
the floor and the chair dropped to the second
floor," the fire chief said.
The 2½-story, three-apartment building at 53
Plymouth St. was formerly known as the Woodbridge
dormitory for the now-defunct Belknap College.
Davis said he called for a first alarm, then a
second alarm to get more manpower and equipment to
the scene of the fire which was reported at 4:02
a.m.
Firefighters and equipment from the Meredith,
Moultonboro, Holderness, Ashland and Sandwich Fire
departments responded to assist.
Davis said Eldridge lived in a studio apartment
in the attic area of the building.
Once the chair burned its way to the second
floor, flames got into the kneewall and spread
rapidly up into the attic. Flames also broke out
of the building.
Three rooms of the apartment building received
extensive damage.
"The building will require some extensive
renovations," the chief said.
Davis said Eldridge admitted to the
firefighters that he had fallen asleep while
smoking.
"He’s a very lucky person," Davis said.
Sixty firefighters responded and were on the
scene for about four hours containing the fire and
mopping up.
None of them was injured
Representatives from the American Red Cross
responded to assist the victim with food, clothing
and a place to stay.
He was treated at the scene by Meredith EMS
personnel for minor burns to his hands.
Chief Davis said Eldridge lost all of is his
personal belongings in the fire.
The former dormitory is owned by Steve Allen of
Hollis who, according to the fire chief, purchased
it in November and had yet to move in.
