ALTON BAY, N.H. -- Dozens of buildings were destroyed as a massive fire tore through the grounds of the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center Easter Sunday.
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State Fire Marshal Bill Degnan told News 9 that 40 homes were destroyed in the blaze that escalated from seven alarms to nine alarms in a matter of minutes. It reached 11 alarms at 8:15 p.m. Monday morning on News 9 Daybreak, Degnan said the preliminary investigation has turned up nothing that would indicate the fire was suspicious.
Fire officials said wind gusts reached 30 mph, helping spread the blaze quickly. Witnesses watched as structures burned to the ground in a matter of minutes.
"I came down over Bay Hill and as I was looking across the bay, I could see 600 feet of flame lengthwise," said John Lobdell. "The whole entire campground looked like it was up in flames."
A number of propane tanks blew up in the intense heat, producing explosions that could be heard and felt around the bay.
"You could feel it in your chest, then you saw the shrapnel fly up in the sky," said Brendan Belleau.
Degnan said one firefighter from Alton was injured after such an explosion. Alton Fire Chief Scott Williams said the force of the explosion caused the firefighter's hose to be thrown back into his face. He was taken to Lakes Region Medical Center for treatment.
Degnan said several firefighters were treated for exhaustion and smoke inhalation.
Williams said he didn't think any of the burned seasonal homes were occupied when flames broke out. The director of the Christian Conference Center, Richard Smith, said most people use the homes for summer vacations. There are 52 homes in the area.
According to Degnan, the fire was contained after 9 p.m.
This was not the first fire on the grounds. In June 2002, one of the cottages caught fire. At the time, officials said the blaze was difficult to fight because access roads were very narrow and it was surrounded by other cottages.
Crews are working to determine the fire's cause.
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