image description
Tankers from Clarksburg and Williamstown delivered water to the scene.
image description
Two dozen firefighters from three different departments were involved in fighting the blaze that began late Thursday night.
image description
The fire was in a garage on the Larabee property.
image description
Firefighters were on scene until 4 a.m. extinguishing the fire on Henderson Road in Williamstown.
image description
The cause of the late Thursday night structure fire is under investigation.

No Injuries in Overnight Blaze in Williamstown

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

The primary point of attack for the fire was through a garage door at the front of the structure.
 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Two dozen firefighters from three different departments worked through the night to extinguish a blaze in a garage and shop on Henderson Road.
 
No injuries were associated with the blaze at 551 Henderson Road, which was called in by owner Philip Larabee at 10:07 p.m., Fire Chief Craig Pedercini reported on Friday morning.
 
No one was in the structure when the fire started, Pedercini said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
 
Firefighters from Williamstown, Clarksburg and Pownal, Vt., worked on the fire until about 4 a.m., Pedercini said.
 
Fourteen call volunteer firefighters from Williamstown were on scene along with seven or eight firefighters from Pownal. Clarksburg sent a tanker to the scene and provided coverage at the Williamstown fire station until 2 a.m.
 
Williamstown Police and Northern Berkshire Emergency Medical Services also were on scene in a support role, but Pedercini reported that no first responders were injured.
 
"One of the hazards I was mostly concerned about was ice," Pedercini said. "The ground was wet and frozen. I was more concerned someone might rush too much and slip on the ice and get hurt.
 
"I cautioned everybody, and they did a great job."
 
Another concern was the presence of propane, acetylene and oxygen tanks inside the building, he said.
 
"We pulled some stuff out of there because it was easily accessible and got it out of the way," Pedercini said.
 
He credited the first firefighters on the scene with helping to prevent the blaze from getting out of hand
 
"One of my first officers arrived on scene and saw flames as they came up Brook Road," Pedercini said. "It was burning on the back side of the building. That was the initial area.
 
"The first two guys in did a great job knocking it down. They used a 2 1/2-inch line, which is a lot of water. They got it knocked down so it was manageable with a lot less water."
 
Among the responders from Williamstown were five Williams College students, including several who joined the service this year, Pedercini said.
 
"One of them was a little more seasoned," he said. "He's been around a few years. He was one of the first ones on the initial attack with one of my officers.
 
"The other ones learned a lot. I couldn't get them into any fire, but they were able to be of use grabbing tools, bringing things back and forth, and we had them on a handline."
 
Thursday's fire also marked the first time Williamstown's recently acquired tanker truck was used to fight a blaze. Pedercini said his officers estimated a little less than 5,000 gallons of water was used in the operation.

Tags: structure fire,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Concerns Over PFAS Spark Sewage Debate in Williamstown

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

The composting facility at the intermunicipal wastewater plant is operating at about two-thirds capacity. 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Forever chemicals are the source of a protracted debate for the Select Board.
 
Out of 15 fiscal articles on the warrant for the annual town meeting in May, the board last Monday voted to recommend passage of 14.
 
It delayed its decision on Article 5, which concerns the budget for the sewer department, more specifically the town's share of operating costs for the Hoosac Water Quality District.
 
Some members of the community, including a member of the Select Board, say the district is choosing a course of action that is at odds with the environmental principles that the town espouses.
 
The HWQD is a 55-year-old intermunicipal entity shared by Williamstown and the city of North Adams.
 
Residents of both communities on public sewer service send their wastewater to a treatment facility in Williamstown off Simonds Road (Route 7).
 
The facility cleans and treats the wastewater and discharges it into the nearby Hoosic River.
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories