Police following new leads in Kimball Castle fire investigation

GILFORD — Police are investigating leads in last month’s suspicious fire at Kimball Castle, which caused so much damage the building is reportedly a total loss. The fire also torched two acres of surrounding land.

“The NH Fire Marshal’s Office is following up on leads,” said Deputy Chief Dustin Parent of the Gilford Police Department. “I do not know if interviews have happened yet.”

The Gilford landmark, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, caught fire at 3:47 a.m., on Aug. 27, despite not having an electricity and being vacant. Firefighters said it was a total loss, and believed it would be torn down.

Tyler Dumont, a spokesperson for the Fire Marshal’s Office, said last week the investigation into the cause of the fire is a joint effort between the state Fire Marshal’s Office, Gilford Police and Gilford Fire.

“The NH state Fire Marshal’s Office is completing the origin and cause portion,” Dumont said. “Any criminal component will be coordinated between the NH state Fire Marshal’s Office and Gilford Police.”

Kimball Castle was built in 1894, when Benjamin Ames Kimball, a state representative who was also the president of the Concord and Montreal Railroad, hired an architect to build the impressive stone structure.

The structure is located at 59 Lockes Hill Road, and one side of the lot is completely wooded. Dry conditions last month caused embers to burn the brush all the way down to Lake Shore Road near the scenic view, which had firefighters spraying for hot spots for about five hours after the castle’s fire was under control.

Two other structures on the property were not affected by the blaze. Fire Marshal’s Office investigators and town police surveyed the scene hours after the fire broke out. Parent later said since there was no power source at the castle, the blaze was considered suspicious.

Gilford police put out a call out to the public for information, including any captured surveillance footage. Parent also said police would be reviewing footage, but did not specify whether the leads pertained to this, or conversations with abutters.

After some confusion about who was leading the investigation and who was handling press inquiries, Parent said he is taking point, and will be updated by the Fire Marshal’s Office accordingly.

“The NH Fire Marshal’s Office lead investigator is going to follow up with me every 10 to 14 days during the investigation.”