Fire engulfs barn in Spofford

Aug. 09--SPOFFORD -- A two-alarm fire ripped through a barn on High Street Wednesday afternoon, leaving the building a total loss.

Spofford Fire Chief Steve Dumont said crews responded to 11 High St. after receiving reports of a structure fire shortly after 4:50 p.m.

Firefighters from Spofford and Keene were first on the scene, arriving to find the barn engulfed in flames, according to Dumont.

He said firefighters were able to contain the conflagration as it moved toward a garage and breezeway that connect the barn to the house.

"Between both crews, we were able to stop it from spreading to the house," he said.

Dumont said no one was injured in the fire. It began as thunderstorms rolled across the region.

While neighbors reported a loud crash before the barn went up in smoke, Dumont said the cause is under investigation.

"As far as I'm concerned it's undetermined," he said.

Elizabeth Joseph lives at 11 High St. with her 7-year-old son. She said neither of them was home at the time of the fire.

"I have insurance, and everyone's okay," Joseph said. "I'm an optimistic person."

Joseph said she was in Dummerston, Vt., when she received a call about the blaze from a neighbor.

Back in Spofford, she watched firefighters hose down the smoldering remains of the barn, which she said was more than 150 years old.

James Howell lives down the road from Joseph. He said he and his son Kirby were at home when they heard a loud crack that he attributed to lightning.

When he came outside, Howell said he saw smoke rising from Joseph's barn. He ran over to turn off a propane tank behind the building and let out Joseph's two dogs, which were inside the house when the barn caught fire.

He later went back for Joseph's rabbit but couldn't find her cat, which Joseph said was also inside the house.

According to Howell, the old, wooden barn went up in flames in a matter of minutes.

"It was just a big, rolling fire," he said. "That heat just blasted us."

Dumont said the fire caused minor damage to siding on a nearby home and a small blaze inside a dumpster on that property.

He said Joseph's home was untouched by the fire and sustained only minor smoke damage. Her cat, he noted, is probably fine.

Around 6 p.m., firefighters were still working to overhaul the charred remains of the barn. Units from several area fire departments were on scene, including Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey, Walpole, Westmoreland and Putney, Vt.

About an hour after the Spofford fire was reported, a lightning strike and subsequent building fire was reported in Jaffrey. That fire, which was reported at about 6 p.m., went to two alarms. No further information about that fire was available this morning.

William Holt can be reached at 352-1234 extension 1435, or wholt@keenesentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @WHoltKS.

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