NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters from four communities struggled with water issues as they spent hours trying to douse a blaze in a 250-year-old multi-family structure on Massachusetts Avenue. 

 

All units were called in for the city and Clarksburg, Williamstown and Pownal, Vt., responded with tanker trucks to keep the water flowing. 

 

The building is right across from the intersection with Ashton Avenue and trucks were pulling water from several hydrants on the same line — a line that couldn't keep up with the draws. 

 

Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre said the fire started in the rear of the three- to four-unit structure, on the east end. 

 

"During response we could see the smoke so we made the all-call," he said. "Once on scene, we had smoke coming from this ... righthand apartment  ... we tried to make an interior attack but the second floor was too hot and we had to back down."

 

The 1778-era building has been owned by Richard and Marlene Moon since 1969. Their son, also Richard, lives next door and saw the smoke coming out of the rear. 

 

"My mom was on the porch and I ran over and said, 'We've got to get out of here,'" he said as he watched the building go up in flames. 

 

It was not clear at the time who else might live in the building. 

 

The fire was reported at about 10:00 Wednesday morning; by noon, the slate roof had collapsed across the structure. 

 

Firefighters had broken out the windows on the second floor but retreated because of the flames and heat. They used the ladder truck again to attempt entry into the attic area but had to pull back when flames broke through roof. 

 

The fire continued to reignite in the first apartment even as it spread through the 18-room structure. Smoke billowed over the neighborhood and neighbors reported the smell of smoke in their homes. 

 

Massachusetts Avenue is closed from Protection Avenue to just west of Ashton Avenue. 

 

Residents along Mass Ave and in the area of the fire can expect low water pressure and possibly dirty water because of the demand from the fire. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey asked for patience during fire operations. "They are fighting a big fire," she said. 

 

"We couldn't flow much more than two hose lines at a time ... so we called in surrounding communities," said the chief. "We're waiting on more water. So obviously our tankers are having a hard time keeping up because our water source over in Williamstown, we're having issues with that water as well. ...

 

"A lot of it has to do with our main, a lot of it has to do with our infrastructure. Our infrastructure is shoddy in this area. It's tough. We need money to maintain our infrastructure and get these water mains replaced."

 

Clarksburg and Williamstown set up portable tanks and Pownal was setting up a hose line to the Hoosic River.

 

"Nobody is in the building doing any kind of interior operations, it's all exterior at this point," Lefebvre said. 

 

Macksey was on scene along with Northern Berkshire EMS handing out water bottles and sports drink to overheated firefighters. The mayor said her main concern was safety of the firefighters and others on the scene.

 

Police, emergency services personnel and wire and alarm were pitching in to pull lines, hand out water and help firefighters with equipment.

 

The temperature was in the 70s but the proximity of the blaze raised it several degrees. A cooling station was also set up and at least one firefighter was being treated for heat exposure. 

 

The building is likely a total loss and the main focus was preventing it from spreading to other buildings in the densely populated area. A set of wood stairs on the house next door caught on fire, but firefighters were able to douse them.

 

Clarksburg also sent its air truck and covered the city station with Stamford, Vt.

 

Operations are expected to continue throughout the afternoon. The cause has not yet been cited.