SANBORNTON — A fire caused by towels left on a heating duct was extinguished by the sprinkler system Saturday afternoon at Steele Hill Inn.

Lt. Linda Suroweic said the fire department received a signal at 12:19 p.m. that a smoke detector and then the sprinkler system had been activated. Sanbornton firefighters were already one the road, when, seven minutes later she said smoke was reported coming from the building so the call went to a first alarm.

"Fortunately the sprinkler system worked perfectly, " she said, but added the remoteness of the resort and that the fire was in the older restaurant building prompted the first alarm.

"We were able to send everybody but Laconia and Belmont home before they reached the inn," she said.

She said there was extensive water damage to the three floors in the row where the fire was, but no other damage was done and guests were allowed to return to their rooms.

There were no injuries.