A fast-moving fire which started in a barn quickly spread to the adjoining house, virtually destroying both structures in less than an hour Monday evening.

Firefighters and equipment from more than a dozen surrounding communities rushed to the scene in an effort to contain the three-alarm fire at 25 New Chester Mountain Road. The fire was first reported at approximately 7:30 p.m. A second-alarm response to summon reinforcements was sounded moments later, and a third alarm was struck about 20 minutes later.

Bristol Fire Chief Norman Skantze said when he arrived on the scene the barn was completely ablaze and it was quickly moving throughout the house. Skantze said the barn was attached to a house which was the home of a number of people. He said that the safety of the tenants was the main priority.

The names of the home's owners and the number of occupants were not immediately available. The Red Cross was called in to provide humanitarian assistance.

"The fire was traveling rapidly," said Skantze. "It spread from the barn, which was well involved upon arrival. Then it spread to where the family was living. We got them out of the house as quickly as possible and then began putting out the fire," the chief said.

At about 8:30 p.m., Skantze said that about 80 percent of the house was destroyed, meaning that, for all practical purposes, the home would be considered a total loss. There were still high flames coming from the top of the building, with smoldering ash from the ruins of what was once a barn and a home.

Water supply lines were laid from High Street and also down Route 3A. Skantze said that, to ensure safety, power was shut off to the residence.

Skantze said firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent property. He said there was a real concern that the flames could ignite two nearby propane tanks. However, he said, the situation was controlled without any incident concerning the tanks.

He also said that, because of the intensity of fire, flaming embers where spewing into the area and creating a threat that burning debris could start more fires nearby, causing the damage to spread.

"This is a complete, total loss," said Skantze. "And it is an unfortunate loss at that. The good thing is that there have been no injuries to this point. We will have people here fighting this for the next several hours."

All roads leading to New Chester Mountain Road were closed to the public while area fire departments scrambled to put out the persistent fire. In fact, traffic was blocked off in the center of Bristol, beginning at South Main Street.

Neighbors Virginia and Merle Lyon said they saw the blaze start from the barn and it moved quickly to the home.

"It was completely engulfed within a half an hour," said Virginia Lyon. "The fire definitely moved quickly."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid dispatch center, departments assisting Bristol were: Alexandria, New Hampton, Ashland, Bridgewater, Hill, Hebron, Danbury, Plymouth, Meredith, Holderness, Franklin, Campton-Thornton and Sanbornton.