GILMANTON — There were no injuries in a large garage fire Monday night as firefighters battled the blaze in freezing temperatures with a large response from mutual aid companies.

Gilmanton firefighters responded to Loon Pond Road for a report of heavy smoke in the residence at 5:03 p.m. on Dec. 8. Luckily for homeowners, one of the firefighters lives on Loon Pond, and arrived to find a fire in the attached garage.

“One of our call persons was first on scene, and able to clear the building. He was able to report what he had via phone/radio,” said Fire Chief Paul Hempel III in a phone interview, adding the home was threatened by the fire.

With the cold temperatures and wind complicating response efforts, town firefighters called for assistance from neighboring communities. Arriving at the

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