UPDATED Oct. 12 at 8:56 p.m.—The Fire Marshal determined that the cause of the fire was "careless disposal of smoking materials."
DALTON, Mass. — It took more than hour on Monday for firefighters to knock down a blaze that engulfed a large portion of a home at 177 High St.
A neighbor reported the fire in the two-story home around 4:30 p.m.
Interim Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said firefighters arrived to find flames extending up the front of the house and into the eaves and the attic. An image posted on Facebook shows the porch section of the building fully involved.
One person was treated by the local emergency medical services for smoke inhalation but was not take to the hospital, said Czerwinski. No firefighters were injured.
The road from Field Street to Glennon Avenue was closed as firefighters battled the blaze.
The home is more than 100 years old and had a lot of void spaces that the blaze could travel, Czerwinski said.
At the time of the interview, the department was waiting on scene for the State Fire Marshal investigator to help determine the cause and origin of the blaze.
Responding to the fire were the Hinsdale and Pittsfield fire departments. Pittsfield provided a ladder truck. Cheshire Fire Department was standing by as a rapid intervention team. The Lanesborough Fire Department covered the town during the incident.
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State Fire Marshal: Fall Back Safely
STOW, Mass.—With the end of daylight savings time coming on Nov. 3, Massachusetts fire officials issued a seasonal reminder to check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and change the batteries when changing clocks.
"Working smoke and CO alarms are vital to your safety at home," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, protect yourself and the people you care for by putting fresh alkaline batteries in alarms that use them and replacing alarms that are out of date."
Today's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have the manufacturing date printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions – usually 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the model. Unless you have newer alarms with 10-year sealed batteries, this is also a good time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms. And remember to test your smoke and CO alarms once a month to be sure they're working properly.
Heating Season Brings Carbon Monoxide Hazards
Foxborough Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms as we enter the colder months.
"Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, and heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide in the home," Chief Kelleher said. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this invisible killer."
Replacement Alarms Should Have Sealed, Long-Life Batteries and a Hush Feature
Replacing your old single-station smoke alarm? Choose alarms that have sealed, long-life batteries and a hush feature. This makes it less likely that someone in the home will use the batteries for another device, forget to change them twice a year, or remove them when cooking causes smoke in the kitchen.
"Disabling a smoke alarm puts you, your loved ones, and everyone in the building at risk," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Never remove batteries from a smoke alarm except when putting fresh ones in."
Alarms Should Be Listed by an Independent Lab
Massachusetts requires that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Listed devices will have the laboratory's mark on the back. In recent years, fire officials have seen numerous smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were purchased online and either have counterfeit marks or no mark at all.
"Smoke and CO alarms can be the difference between life and death, but only if they work properly." said Chief Kelleher. "When you purchase a new alarm, choose one from a well-known, national brand. We've seen many alarms that were purchased online and don't meet the safety requirements of our State Fire Code. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is."
Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan
"Changes to building construction and furnishings mean we have less time to escape a fire at home than ever before," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "You could have just three minutes to get out safely."
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