By Benning W. De La Mater
Updated: 12/22/2009 11:44:59 PM EST
Berkshire Eagle Staff
LENOX -- A family of four is homeless after an intense fire ripped through their two-story house early Monday morning.
Lenox Deputy Fire Chief Christopher O’Brien said Michael and Kathleen Cleary heard noises in the attic of their home at 15 Bracelan Court at around 12:45 a.m. Monday.
When they went to investigate, they discovered smoke, called firefighters and exited the home. The fire engulfed the attic within minutes and punched a hole in the roof.
"The flames were coming out around the chimney by the time we arrived," O’Brien said.
Nearly 30 volunteer firefighters fought the blaze in freezing temperatures and strong winds. It took about an hour to put down the flames. No one was hurt.
The couple’s two children were away at college at the time of the fire and were due back home Monday afternoon. The American Red Cross of Berkshire County provided assistance to the family, including a hotel room.
An investigation by Lenox firefighters and a member of the state fire marshal’s office determined that the fire was due to a malfunction of the fireplace, wood stove or oil burner in an area close to the chimney.
The fire destroyed the roof and caused extensive damage to the first and second floors. O’Brien said a dollar amount had yet to be assigned to the damage, although he believes some portion of the home may be salvageable. House prices range between $300,000 to $600,000
in that neighborhood.
"It’s terrible to see this kind of thing anytime but it’s especially heartbreaking during the holidays," O’Brien said.
To reach Benning W. De La Mater:
bdelamater@berkshireeagle.com,
(413) 496-6243.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Family homeless after Clarksburg fire
Family homeless after Clarksburg fire
By Meghan Foley
Posted: 12/21/2009 02:39:54 AM EST
CLARKSBURG -- A local family was left homeless after their home was heavily damaged by fire Sunday evening.
Firefighters with the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company were called to 38 Wheeler Ave. around 6:30 p.m., and upon arrival, found flames coming out of the attic of the single-family home owned by Keith and Barbara Worthington.
Keith Bush, safety officer for the fire company, said the fire was initially knocked down within a half hour, but the attic, roof and roof eves on the east and west sides of the house are gone.
"The rest of the house mostly sustained water damage," he said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the family of four is reportedly staying with friends.
Bush said the home is definitely unlivable and will probably be condemned until the homeowners can make repairs.
Clarksburg firefighters were assisted by members of the North Adams and Stamford, Vt., fire departments.
Bush, who lives two houses down the street from the Worthingtons, was the first on the scene after one of the Worthingtons' sons called him on his cell phone.
"I was eating dinner. He said to me, 'we have a fire,' " Bush said.
He said when he got to the house, he could see flames coming out of the west side of the attic, and he then went inside to make sure the family had gotten out.
"They were trying to put out the fire with pails of water," he said.
He said he then helped the
family, whom he has known for 20 years, evacuate the house.
The below freezing temperatures and the location of the fire made it challenging for firefighters battling the blaze.
While water lines didn't freeze, the water rushing down the hill of Wheeler Avenue did.
"Everything was icing up on us. We had to keep throwing sand under guys' feet," Bush said.
In addition, it was difficult to position the pumper trucks and other equipment on the hill, he said.
To reach Meghan Foley, e-mail mfoley@thetranscript.com.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Historic Egremont Inn destroyed by fire
Firefighters from nearly a dozen surrounding communities are battling a fire at the historic Egremont Inn Friday morning. There are reports that the building has partially collapsed. Photo courtesy of Andy Balise
(Courtesy of WWLP 22 Springfield,MA)
Historic Egremont Inn destroyed by fire
Firefighters from Mass, NY, Conn. battle blaze
Updated: Friday, 11 Dec 2009, 12:35 PM EST
Published : Friday, 11 Dec 2009, 6:10 AM EST
Jennifer Colby
Firefighters from nearly a dozen communities in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut battled a five-alarm fire at the historic Egremont Inn on Friday morning. Residents woke up in shock to find out that the 250-year-old building was burning to the ground.
Fire crews were first called to fire at 10 Old Sheffield Road around 5 a.m. on Friday and by the time they arrived the three-story, wooden building was fully engulfed in flames.
When a 22News crew arrived on scene, flames could be seen shooting from the roof and part of the building had already collapsed.
The Egremont Inn is over 250 years old and grew from a tavern during the American Revolutionary War.
"It's an incredibly old structure. It was stage coach stop back many, many years ago. To lose something so beautiful and to lose all the history and the antiques and everything. It just saddens everybody who looks at it. It's going to sadden us for years to come. You can't bring anything like this back," said Egremont Select Board Chairman Bruce Cumsky.
Egremont Police Chief Reena Bucknell told 22News that firefighters had a tough time battling the blaze because the water kept freezing.
Chief Bucknell said it is too early to comment on the cause of the fire, but said the State Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate. There were no reports of any injuries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)