Fire on Island

Dog's Ear · 04-08-2004, 02:21 PM

Does anyone have any information regarding a fire on one of the islands? I have not heard anything official but heard it was on Whortleberry Island in Tuftonboro.

Orion · 04-08-2004, 02:37 PM

No smoke visible from the Castle Springs Cam.

Dog's Ear · 04-08-2004, 02:47 PM

I just received additional information. The fire was on Whortleberry Island yesterday. It was on the West End of the island across from Dow Island. One home was heavily damaged and approx. 4 acres (seems high) of woods burned. They were able to stop it before any other homes were damaged. They used the air boat from Center Ossipee to get out there. It appeared that a tree limb took down a power line.

lakelovers · 04-08-2004, 09:49 PM

Hi,

The lake home that was destroyed was our home. We're obviously very dissapointed as we have owned the home for 10 years and have many, many wonderful camp memoriels. We're grateful that no one was hurt and that the fire didn't spread to other homes.

We would like to commend and thank all of the firefighters that responded and worked tirelessly to contain the fire. I would like to also thank George Randall for helping to transport the firefighters back and forth from the mainland.

We will cherish our memories in the camp and look forward to rebuilding.

Blue Thunder · 04-09-2004, 05:26 AM

Lakelover,
I think all of us here feel for you. It would be hard to imagine losing a lake home that I'm sure had so many good memories. As you say, thank goodness no one was hurt and other homes were not damaged. I own an Island home and it's one of the risks as far as fire is concerned. Good luck in the rebuilding process.

Blue Thunder

Mink Islander · 04-09-2004, 05:47 AM

So sorry for your loss. Really sad when a home is lost to fire. Hope you can rebuild quickly!

Tyler · 04-09-2004, 06:31 AM

So sorry about the fire that destroyed your camp. Hope you can rebuild ASAP.

Pepper · 04-09-2004, 06:46 AM

Thank Heavens no one was hurt. If this had happened a month later, things might have been different. So very sad for you at your loss, and prayers going out to you with hopes that you can rebuild in time to start making new memories this very summer! Best wishes for you and your family.

Rattlesnake Gal · 04-09-2004, 08:03 AM

Lakelovers,
Very sorry for your loss. Heartbreaking. Unfortunately your life is going to be turned upside-down with the aftermath. I hope the clean up and rebuilding goes smoothly and quickly.

Island Girl · 04-09-2004, 09:04 AM

I hope you can begin the rebuild soon.

WakeUp · 04-09-2004, 09:27 AM

Best of luck on the rebuild.

Stina · 04-09-2004, 12:33 PM

May the rebuild be quick and you begin new memories in your new house!

meredith necker · 04-09-2004, 03:03 PM

So sorry for your loss. Fire is one of my biggest fears. We have had a number of fires on Big Bear. One of our neighbors cottage burned down and in another fire someone was badly burned. I'm glad no one was hurt in your fire.

upthesaukee · 04-09-2004, 06:57 PM

Hope the rebuild goes quickly for you. Sorry for the loss.

Peter · 04-10-2004, 03:14 AM

The fire came up to the edge of our property but we were lucky that is far as is it got. Wish you the best in starting over.

lakelovers · 04-10-2004, 11:11 AM

Hi Everyone,

We would like to thank everyone for their kind words as well as the email offers to help!

I visited the property yesterday and as described the cottage was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the fire was low burning and aside for 8-12 trees around the cottage, there was no damage to the trees over the 3-4 acres of where the fire burned. It turns out it was mostly brush and leaves that burned, thankfully because the area was still wet.

The cause of the fire was obvious as a large birch tree snapped in half and fell across the main power line of which the hot wire then caused a ground fire. And, what was amazing is how close the fire came to other houses (within 2 feet of 2 other houses, and within 30' of of 3 others).

So, from the water, aside from seeing a missing house, it is not obvious that there was even a fire. We're very thankful that the area was almost fully preserved!

If anyone out there can refer any architects who may have plans available we would greatly appreciate it. We'll also be looking for referrals to any contractors (framers, electricians, plumbers, etc).

Thanks again for all of the kind words and support! We're looking forward to rebuilding!!

Mike & Donna

PS: For those of you who haven't ridden in a hovercraft, let me tell you, it is quite the experience. Let's just stay they don't have brakes!!

)

trfour · 04-11-2004, 12:19 PM

God bless you, Lakelovers!

My Family almost lost our home to fire. Thank God we were at school and our jobs. It was in winter and with all of the storm windows in place, the fire burned all of the oxygen and was out when the Fire Department got there. Although the heat and smoke dammage was extensive, we were able to recover, in time.

The important thing is that everyone was safe and uninjured!!

I hope that the rebuilding goes well.

trfour

spnr bug · 04-13-2004, 07:04 AM

Hope everything goes well with the rebuild and that you can quickly return and start new memories in a new cabin.
Spnr Bug

Locker · 04-13-2004, 08:42 AM

If you are looking for design ideas for replacement of your cottage, you might want to check out Robinson Plans on the internet. They have a variety of cottage style homes which may be of interest. Good luck with your rebuild.

lakeman · 04-13-2004, 03:36 PM

Sorry to hear about your loss. I wish the best of luck in rebuilding, and look forward to hearing about your great progress in upcoming posts.

04-08-2004, 02:21 PM	#1
Dog's Ear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Whortleberry Island Posts: 81 Thanks: 130 Thanked 20 Times in 10 Posts	Fire on Island Does anyone have any information regarding a fire on one of the islands? I have not heard anything official but heard it was on Whortleberry Island in Tuftonboro.

04-08-2004, 02:47 PM	#3
Dog's Ear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Whortleberry Island Posts: 81 Thanks: 130 Thanked 20 Times in 10 Posts	Fire on Whortleberry Island I just received additional information. The fire was on Whortleberry Island yesterday. It was on the West End of the island across from Dow Island. One home was heavily damaged and approx. 4 acres (seems high) of woods burned. They were able to stop it before any other homes were damaged. They used the air boat from Center Ossipee to get out there. It appeared that a tree limb took down a power line.

04-08-2004, 09:49 PM	#4
lakelovers Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fire on Whortleberry Island Hi, The lake home that was destroyed was our home. We're obviously very dissapointed as we have owned the home for 10 years and have many, many wonderful camp memoriels. We're grateful that no one was hurt and that the fire didn't spread to other homes. We would like to commend and thank all of the firefighters that responded and worked tirelessly to contain the fire. I would like to also thank George Randall for helping to transport the firefighters back and forth from the mainland. We will cherish our memories in the camp and look forward to rebuilding.

04-09-2004, 05:47 AM	#6
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Very sad So sorry for your loss. Really sad when a home is lost to fire. Hope you can rebuild quickly!

04-09-2004, 06:31 AM	#7
Tyler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 123 Thanks: 19 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	To Lakelovers So sorry about the fire that destroyed your camp. Hope you can rebuild ASAP.

04-08-2004, 02:37 PM	#2
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	No smoke visible from the Castle Springs Cam.

04-09-2004, 05:26 AM	#5
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 951 Thanks: 252 Thanked 351 Times in 158 Posts	Lakelover, I think all of us here feel for you. It would be hard to imagine losing a lake home that I'm sure had so many good memories. As you say, thank goodness no one was hurt and other homes were not damaged. I own an Island home and it's one of the risks as far as fire is concerned. Good luck in the rebuilding process. Blue Thunder

04-09-2004, 06:46 AM	#8
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Fire on Island Thank Heavens no one was hurt. If this had happened a month later, things might have been different. So very sad for you at your loss, and prayers going out to you with hopes that you can rebuild in time to start making new memories this very summer! Best wishes for you and your family.

04-09-2004, 08:03 AM	#9
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Fire on Whortleberry Island Lakelovers, Very sorry for your loss. Heartbreaking. Unfortunately your life is going to be turned upside-down with the aftermath. I hope the clean up and rebuilding goes smoothly and quickly.

04-09-2004, 09:04 AM	#10
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	I am very sorry for your loss I hope you can begin the rebuild soon. __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

04-09-2004, 09:27 AM	#11
WakeUp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 83 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Best of luck on the rebuild.

04-09-2004, 12:33 PM	#12
Stina Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tewksbury, MA - Wolfeboro, NH Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So Sorry May the rebuild be quick and you begin new memories in your new house!

04-09-2004, 03:03 PM	#13
meredith necker Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: meredith neck and bear island Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What a shame! So sorry for your loss. Fire is one of my biggest fears. We have had a number of fires on Big Bear. One of our neighbors cottage burned down and in another fire someone was badly burned. I'm glad no one was hurt in your fire.

04-09-2004, 06:57 PM	#14
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,597 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Sorry Hope the rebuild goes quickly for you. Sorry for the loss.

04-10-2004, 03:14 AM	#15
Peter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Windham, NH Posts: 69 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Whortleberry Island fire The fire came up to the edge of our property but we were lucky that is far as is it got. Wish you the best in starting over.

04-10-2004, 11:11 AM	#16
lakelovers Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fire On Island - Thank You Hi Everyone, We would like to thank everyone for their kind words as well as the email offers to help! I visited the property yesterday and as described the cottage was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the fire was low burning and aside for 8-12 trees around the cottage, there was no damage to the trees over the 3-4 acres of where the fire burned. It turns out it was mostly brush and leaves that burned, thankfully because the area was still wet. The cause of the fire was obvious as a large birch tree snapped in half and fell across the main power line of which the hot wire then caused a ground fire. And, what was amazing is how close the fire came to other houses (within 2 feet of 2 other houses, and within 30' of of 3 others). So, from the water, aside from seeing a missing house, it is not obvious that there was even a fire. We're very thankful that the area was almost fully preserved! If anyone out there can refer any architects who may have plans available we would greatly appreciate it. We'll also be looking for referrals to any contractors (framers, electricians, plumbers, etc). Thanks again for all of the kind words and support! We're looking forward to rebuilding!! Mike & Donna PS: For those of you who haven't ridden in a hovercraft, let me tell you, it is quite the experience. Let's just stay they don't have brakes!! )

04-11-2004, 12:19 PM	#17
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Fire on Island God bless you, Lakelovers! My Family almost lost our home to fire. Thank God we were at school and our jobs. It was in winter and with all of the storm windows in place, the fire burned all of the oxygen and was out when the Fire Department got there. Although the heat and smoke dammage was extensive, we were able to recover, in time. The important thing is that everyone was safe and uninjured!! I hope that the rebuilding goes well. trfour Last edited by trfour; 04-11-2004 at 12:45 PM.

04-13-2004, 07:04 AM	#18
spnr bug Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So sorry for your loss Hope everything goes well with the rebuild and that you can quickly return and start new memories in a new cabin. Spnr Bug

04-13-2004, 08:42 AM	#19
Locker Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Fire If you are looking for design ideas for replacement of your cottage, you might want to check out Robinson Plans on the internet. They have a variety of cottage style homes which may be of interest. Good luck with your rebuild.

The Following User Says Thank You to Locker For This Useful Post:
anniep (12-30-2018)

04-13-2004, 03:36 PM	#20
lakeman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry to hear about your loss. I wish the best of luck in rebuilding, and look forward to hearing about your great progress in upcoming posts.