21st Suspicious Blaze in Series Strikes New Hampshire Town

The 21st suspicious fire to strike Jefferson since May--and the second last week--hit a summer home overlooking New Hampshire’s White Mountains Friday, police said.

State Police Lt. Gary Sloper said the fire was reported shortly after 5 a.m. at the Route 116 summer home of Catherine Lewis, a Massachusetts resident. The house, which sustained heavy interior damage, was was unoccupied at the time.

“It wasn’t that extensive of a fire in the amount of flames,” Sloper said. “Most of the damage was the result of smoke and water, as well as heat.”

State police initially reported that the fire was not considered suspicious. But Sloper said a more thorough investigation of the scene prompted police to change their minds about the fire’s origin.

“We are presently classifying it as having suspicious origin,” Sloper said.

Sloper declined to comment on what evidence had surfaced and would not say if there were any similarities to the 20 suspected arsons that have wreaked havoc in the small town since May 5.

A witness said the fire appeared to have started in the back of the small cottage overlooking New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

The last suspicious fire was reported Tuesday night at the log home owned by another Massachusetts resident. At least five other fires have been reported within two miles of Friday’s fire.

Since the rash of fires began, nervous residents have slept in shifts, some of them with guns and belongings at their bedsides. No arrests have been made in the arsons, nor have any suspects been named.

Last month, firefighters in the town were given lie detector tests when questioned about the blazes.