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A helicopter ferries water to the Butternut Fire in Great Barrington on Tuesday.

Wildfire Puts Great Barrington in State of Emergency

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The town is in a local state of emergency as responders work to calm a wildfire spread over 100 acres near Brush Hill Road off East Mountain.

The Select Board hosted an emergency virtual meeting this afternoon to address the unexpected occurrence. During the meeting, the board declared a local state of emergency until further notice, recognizing that the fire poses an imminent and substantial risk to the health, safety, and welfare of residents.

It was recognized that the conditions require immediate action to protect the public and ensure effective coordination of response efforts.

The fire was first reported Monday evening and by 9 p.m., firefighters were pulled from the mountain because of the hazardous conditions. On Tuesday morning, neighboring departments were called in to help contain the blaze. The fire was estimated to have spread over 100 acres and required a response of more than 80 personnel since being reported Monday.

For now, firefighters are trying to protect occupied properties. Work will continue throughout the day and night, the department reported. A command center has been set up at the fairgrounds.

Fire Chief Scott Turner said in an afternoon press release that it is an "ongoing and challenging situation" and asked for the public's patience and cooperation as firefighters work around the clock.

"Crews are working diligently to control the spread of the fire, and we are grateful for the support from neighboring fire departments, state agencies, and specialized teams," he said.

"The safety of our firefighters, residents, and the surrounding environment is our top priority."

Local photographer Zack Morris captured a helicopter taking water from the pond at Butternut Ski Area to douse the flames.  

Ryan Brown, public information officer for the firefighting efforts, said during a televised press conference in the after that the water is coming from a snowmaking pond and that other resources are being looked at. 
 
At that same press conference, Chief Fire Warden David Celino said there is no immediate danger from the blaze and that a "season-ending" event like snow or rain would likely be needed to complete douse it. The state's drought and dry weather has lead to hundreds of fires across the state since the end of August, he said. 
 
Both he and Brown said the cause was most likely human as there are no utilities in the area where the fire began and no incidents of lightning. Communities across the state have imposed burning bans to prevent the dry tinder from igniting.
 
"Day after day our local fire departments are responding to illegal burns in the back yards of residences, or campfires — many of these fires are starting from abandoned campfires," Celino said. "Our message is simple: until we get a break in the action here weatherwise please, please follow the warnings and the messaging you are seeing."

The Select Board's Zoom meeting had more than 100 attendees as community members and media sought answers.

"There is citizen speak but we will not be taking any questions or discussing the fire," Chair Stephen Bannon said.

"That's an ongoing situation and during ongoing emergency situations, all information needs to come from emergency personnel, not from political, appointed, or elected officials. At this point, once the emergency is over, we will be glad to have more of a discussion."

Select Board members thanked emergency responders and urged residents to sign up for the Code Red emergency notification system so they can stay up to date.

"I will just say that this is when community means a lot," Bannon added.



"We have our neighboring towns helping us, and this is why we live in this area where we have a community response when there's an emergency and we do appreciate that enormously."

The Fire Department called in help from surrounding communities and agencies, including responders from Berkshire County, the state Department of Fire Services, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Air National Guard Wing.

The public is asked to stay clear of the affected forest area and avoid flying private drones in the area because they may hinder efforts. The town is using a drone to monitor the fire.

"The community is reminded that the current Outdoor Fire Ban remains in effect. This wildfire adds to the more than 500 fires reported across Massachusetts since October 1st," the town wrote in a press release Tuesday morning.

"We urge residents to remain vigilant and avoid the affected area for their safety."

Those who wish to support the first responders at the scene can bring donations of cash or gift cards to the Claire Teague Senior Center, located at 915 South Main St., Monday through Friday from 8 to 3:30.

At this time, the Fire Department is unable to accept donations of food items.

Further updates can be found on townofgb.org.


Tags: state of emergency,   wildfire,   

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Guest Column: A Thank You to Marcy's Searchers

By Brad FitzgeraldGuest Column

Dear Berkshire Community, 

It's now been four weeks since we were made to realize the palpable community spirit very much thriving throughout our larger community.


A picture of the recovered Marcy from her lost-and-found posting on Facebook. 

In early December you might recall the powerful three-day snowstorm and below-freezing conditions that hit the region stronger than most in recent memory. As a lover of winter and snow that first morning I took pictures and sent them to family who I hoped would see some snow when they came for Christmas.

We happen to live only a few houses away from Bullard Woods so as with most days I planned to take my two dogs for a walk in the forest and Gould Meadows, but the beautiful, fresh snow lifted that to excitement. Marcy is 13 1/2 and Freddy is 12 1/2. We got them many years ago as adult rescues. They are the joy of my daily journey in nature.

For the past few years Marcy, especially, has lost weight regardless of what we feed her. So for the past few years I became that guy who shows up to the woods in cold weather with big dogs bundled up with a first layer
of reindeer sweaters (including antlers), a second layer of parkas, and their harnesses fitted snugly around both those layers. More poignant, this was to be one of Marcy's first walks back into the woods since her eye removal (due to a tumor) only three weeks prior.

Every day Marcy tells us when it's time to eat … not so much Freddy. When it's near 4:30 p.m. she begins hopping, pacing and whining. I was leaving at 4 p.m. for our walk. Therefore, that day my wife thought I should take a short walk not only because it was almost time for their dinner but she felt more conservative than usual about a shorter walk considering Marcy had only recently recovered from surgery. 

Given the snowy conditions I was alone that afternoon in the woods except for one person I saw later on. I let the dogs off leash to play in the snow and they loved it. They trotted around, sniffed, and had fun. It would be dark soon so we would be heading back shortly. Then it happened. Marcy, in a rare moment, started trotting away, tail up, happy, but toward home, a route she knows perfectly well. I called her, but could tell she was on a non-stop path home anticipating dinner.

To reach the road before her so she didn't get hit by a car in the storm, I quickly leashed old Freddy and began running up the direct path to the street making sure Freddy wasn't getting too exhausted. From our hurrying I was confident we would arrive at the street first. Phew; no cars were anywhere due to the storm. But no Marcy either. I jogged down the road calling. Nothing. I guessed she must have made it to the house somehow before we did so I ran to the door knowing she would be barking and waiting. Not there.

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