A 72-year-old woman was found dead inside a home in Barnstead that was destroyed by fire early Monday morning.

The Barnstead Fire Department was called to 139 Varney Road around 3:30 a.m. after a neighbor behind the property woke and saw the home engulfed by flames, said Chief Al Poulin.

The scope of the fire and the limited number of emergency crews who initially arrived made fighting the blaze difficult, Poulin said.

“By the time the arriving towns came and extinguished the fire, it was an hour and a half later because we didn’t have a lot of manpower,” Poulin said. “There was so much fire and there’s only so much you can do with the limited manpower that’s available at that time of night.”

When firefighters arrived on scene, they saw a car in the driveway but because the home had collapsed in on itself it was too dangerous to enter the structure and search for anyone inside, Poulin said. After the fire was under control, Frances Barrett’s body was found in one of the bedrooms. 

Barrett lived alone, kept to herself and did not have any pets, Poulin said. Her cause of death remains under investigation pending additional tests, according to the New Hampshire Department of Safety. 

Due to the extensive damage of the home, the fire department and the fire marshal have deemed the structure a total loss and the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Officials believe the fire started in the front section of the home and identified several areas of concern, including a propane heater and a fireplace. 

Varney Road was closed until 6 a.m. Monday morning and the scene was cleared by 10:30 a.m.

Barnstead Fire Department was assisted by Pittsfield, Alton, Epsom, Strafford, Farmington, New Durham and Gilmanton fire departments. 

 The investigation remains active and ongoing by members of the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Barnstead fire and police departments. 

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