Edward Smith was at the Pittsfield Post Office when he got the call.

“Your house is on fire,” his neighbor at Deer Run Farm told him over the phone on Saturday, Nov. 16.

The 61-year-old rushed back to 7 Shingle Mill Brook Road, where he lived for nine years, to find flames shooting from his single-story home and smoke billowing into the air.

“I was scared out of my wits,” he said.

He ran into the house twice to save what he could, like his computer and equipment belonging to his dog, Hunter, who had already escaped. Smith said his neighbors pulled him out of the building and made him promise not to go back in. Firefighters from Pittsfield and surrounding towns – including Epsom, Barnstead, Loudon, Northwood, Chichester, and Gilmanton – responded to the scene, extinguishing the blaze around 9:30 a.m.

“When you’re there and the shock of it hits you, you do the best you can,” Smith said, acknowledging the dangers of his choice. “And that’s just what I did. Fortunately, my dog was out of the house. So my biggest thing is as long as he was safe, I was safe, and my neighbors were safe, that’s all we could hope for.”

He’s gone back to the house several times since the fire to try to salvage what he can of his belongings.

“My hands are jet black because of the soot,” Smith said. “It’s amazing what a fire can do. Just just walking in, you get dizzy with the smell.”

The flames are believed to have originated from a faulty heat wrap surrounded by insulation, engulfing part of the house in fire.

“The key is knowing where your water supply is and being able to access that and having enough trucks on hand, depending on the fire, and knowing what you have for water on the trucks,” Pittsfield Fire Chief Peter Pszonowsky said.

Luckily the trucks had enough water, he added, explaining that the closest water source was a pond two miles toward town. Smith’s house sits on a private Class 6 road, which was still passable for first responders, Pszonowsky said.

“Smoke detectors are key to first alerting anybody,” Pszonowsky added. “There was no working fire detectors in this house. There was also the problem of how dry it’s been, and how windy.”

In the aftermath of the fire, Smith has connected with the American Red Cross, which helped provide funds for somewhere to stay while he figures out his next step, but he said he’s essentially living out of his car alongside his dog. A veteran of the Air Force, Smith has also turned to the state Veterans Association as a resource.

“I literally have nothing right now but my car and my dog and my friends,” he said. “As much as the place is ruined, it could have been a hell of a lot worse.”

He’s getting through as best as he can and remains grateful for his safety and Hunter’s. Friends and community members have rallied around him and even created a GoFundMe page that has already raised over $5,000 as of Monday afternoon.

“You just learn to accept and just trust,” he said. “I don’t mean to be facetious, but trusting God and trust in your friends and family, and that’s what I’m doing. They’ve been here for me since the very get-go, so that’s wonderful that I have that kind of support.

With the holiday season right around the corner, Pszonowsky urged people to remain aware of fire danger, especially as they put up trees and lights. He recommended people make sure to water their trees and be careful of not overloading circuits with lights.

“The most important thing is to check your smoke detectors and make sure they’re working properly,” Pszonowsky added.

To access an online fundraiser for Smith, visit https://gofund.me/3b0e21ef

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com.