A propane tank exploded inside the shed sparking the fire.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A shed behind a Potter Mountain home exploded Friday afternoon and nearly spread to a full-blown brush fire.
According to the homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, his wife heard a loud bang at about 3 p.m. and moments later flames in the back yard had engulfed the nearby trees. The shed was completely destroyed and fire burned about an acre of land.
"The flames were over the trees," he said.
Upon arriving, firefighters immediately called in tanker trucks from Hancock and Richmond to contain the fire from spreading up the Potter Mountain hillside, according to Fire Chief Charlie Durfee.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation was called because of the "Class 4" conditions, meaning there is a high-level risk for brush fires.
"We were preventing the fire from spreading to a full-blown brush fire," Durfee said. "It could have taken off and burned 200 acres up the mountain."
Firefighters used about 4,000 gallons of water to put out the flames in about 30 minutes. Employees of nearby Sayers Auto Wrecking helped remove brush near the fire.
"The cause of the explosion is likely from a 1-pound propane cylinder for a grill," Durfee said, explaining that sometimes the propane expands and blows up the cylinder.
Durfee said that type of explosion doesn't happen often but he was "just thankful the propane was out in the shed and not in the garage."
Nobody was injured. The shed housed typical outdoor items like fences and toys. A boat next to the shed was also destroyed.
The homeowner said he does have insurance, which will cover the replacement cost.
"I have to give credit to Lanesborough and Richmond. They did a fabulous job," he said. "They knocked it down really quickly."
Falling Tree Injures Lanesborough Motorists
Staff Reports On: 06:22PM / Tuesday October 30, 2012
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A tree that fell on a pickup truck during Hurricane Sandy sent a local couple to the hospital.
Police said a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup was westbound on Brodie Mountain Road at about 6:46 p.m. when the tree crashed down across the road, crushing the truck's cab.
Lanesborough Police and Fire responded to the scene. The driver sustained serious injuries, primarily to his arm, and the passenger, a woman, suffered cuts from the broken windshield. Both were taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by ambulance and the truck was towed from the scene.
The names of the truck's occupants were not available but they were identified as Lanesborough residents.
The area was buffeted by high winds from Monday into Tuesday from the affects of Sandy as she made landfill in New Jersey. There were numerous reports around the county of trees and power lines down. Lanesborough Police reported that they were busy Monday night responding such incidents.
Pittsfield Man Hospitalized After Being Shot By Police
Staff Reports On: 01:33PM / Thursday September 29, 2011
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A Pittsfield man was shot by police Wednesday afternoon and is in stable condition at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
According to the district attorney's office, Keith Carnute, 46, of Summit Street in Pittsfield was shot by Lanesborough Officer Timothy Sorrell on Silver Street after Carnute allegedly went after him with a knife.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., police and fire responded to Silver Street, near Ore Bed Road, after two women walking their dogs reported a body in the road. Upon arrival, Sorrell and firefighters found Carnute on the edge of an elevated shoulder in a heavily wooded area. Carnute was allegedly armed with a knife and began advancing on Sorrell, who then shot Carnute once in the chest, according to the officials.
Two volunteer firefighters administered first aid and Carnute was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.
The circumstances of the shooting are under investigation by state police detectives, ballistics and the Crime Scene Services Unit.
Rash of Break-ins Strikes Lanesborough
By: Andy McKeever On: 06:49PM / Thursday July 14, 2011
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Police are advising residents to lock their car doors after about 10 vehicles were broken into in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
According to Police, the vehicles were mostly unlocked and electronics were stolen sometime after midnight Thursday morning. Police have called residents informing them of the rash that spans across town from Sunrise Street to Ore Bed Road.
Police do not have any suspects and the case is still under investigation. The items stolen ranged from stereo receivers to binoculars to a cell phone.
Residents are encouraged to take "preventative maintenance" by locking doors and report any suspicious activity to the police.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Lanesborough man was charged with his second child pornography offense.
Jermaine L. Lane, 35, of Balance Rock Road had not guilty pleas entered in Berkshire Superior Court Wednesday on four counts of possession of visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct - his second offense.
Lane is being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 bail as a result of allegedly having images of child pornography on his cell phone on Jan. 31. The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.
Lane had previously pleaded guilty to 39 counts of possession of child pornography in 2008 and he was given suspended sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correct and placed on three-years probation. He was also told to attend sex-offender counseling and wear a GPS monitor.
Those charges stemmed from having illicit images on his computer between 2004 and 2006 while he lived in Pittsfield.
