Candle started Adams inferno

By Benning W. De La Mater, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 12/28/2008 09:59:03 AM EST

Sunday, December 28
ADAMS — Investigators determined that an unattended burning candle sparked an intense fire in Adams Friday night that destroyed an apartment building and left at least 15 people homeless.

Adams Fire Chief Stephen Brown said Adams Police and state police fire marshals determined that a resident on the first floor of the First Street residence left a candle burning near combustibles.

"It was an accidental fire," Brown said.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find heavy smoke on the first floor shortly after 6 p.m. By the time they evacuated the building, flames climbed to the second floor and quickly overtook the attic.

The entire structure collapsed by 7 p.m. Firefighters were on scene for at least 12 hours. A neighboring apartment building suffered some damage from the fire.

"We had to bring in an excavator to pull down the rest of the building to make sure it didn't pose a threat to the apartments next door," Brown said.

Both the Holiday Inn in North Adams and Harrington's Restaurant & Inn in Adams offered up rooms to the displaced families.

Harrington's owner Eric Harrington said their spirits were positive.

"Many of them lost everything they owned," he said. "But they're happy just to be alive."

Matthew Soha was staying with Irene Lamarche, the elderly woman who owned the building. He and some friends sifted through the rubble Saturday and found a few of
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Lamarche's important ID cards and some family photos.

"She's having a tough time dealing with it," he said. "It's hard on all of us. I just lost my luggage, but a lot of people lost everything."

Melissa Martin, an officer of Adams Lodge of Elks, said her group is taking donations for the families. Calls have already been flooding into the headquarters and so have donations, including clothes and toys.

"We'll take anything, food, clothes, toys," she said. "We've been getting a lot of winter stuff, like coats, boots and gloves."

Those wishing to donate can contact Martin at (413) 652-1253 or Anne Kupiec (413) 822-7407 or drop items off at the Elks Club at 63 Center St. today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.