CENTER HARBOR — A barn on McCrillis Hill Road was destroyed by fire this afternoon, with flames spreading to a nearby wooded area before firefighters could bring the blaze under control.
The Center Harbor Fire Department was dispatched at 2:34 p.m. after receiving a text message alert to New Hampshire 911 due to poor cell service.
Crews from Meredith, Ashland, Holderness, and Sandwich were called in to assist, with additional station coverage provided by Moultonborough, Plymouth, New Hampton, and Stewart’s Ambulance Service.
Upon arrival, Meredith firefighters encountered a small barn fully engulfed in flames and a 1.5-acre woods fire spreading toward neighboring homes.
A first-alarm response was initiated to bring further support to the scene.
Firefighters launched an aggressive attack and managed to knock down the majority of the fire within 20 minutes, preventing any damage to adjacent residences and reporting no injuries.
RS Eastman Property Services contributed a loader to aid in the overhaul process.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The incident coincided with a major fire in Hebron, requiring additional resources from Woodstock to Gilford.
The Center Harbor Fire Department extends its gratitude to all the departments and services that provided assistance, as well as Center Harbor and Meredith Police.
In the wake of the fire, Chief Tyler Driscoll urges residents to exercise caution with outdoor fires and activities due to the dry and windy conditions that favor rapid wildfire spread.
