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."
Seven Fire Departments Fight Blaze At Hancock Restaurant
By Andy McKeever On: 04:53PM / Wednesday October 10, 2012
HANCOCK, Mass. — Fire caused heavy damage to Powder Hounds Restaurant on Wednesday afternoon and one firefighter was injured fighting it.
According to Fire Chief Dave Rash, the Fire Department received the call at about 2 p.m. and arrived to find "heavy smoke" and for the next two hours more than a half dozen fire departments worked to snuff it out.
"One Stephentown (N.Y.) firefighter has a high level of CO in his blood. He got some smoke but we're going to have him transported to BMC to get checked out," Rash said at the scene.
No other injuries were reported.
Rash said the fire stayed completely on the west end of the second floor — in space used as the restaurant's office.
"It's was an old facility that's been modified and added onto and renovated so there was a lot of different stages of construction and different areas that were walled off. So it was really difficult to get to the fire," he said.
Departments from Lanesborough, Cheshire, Dalton, Williamstown, Stephentown and Hinsdale assisted in finally overcoming the Brodie Mountain Road blaze. New Ashford and Richmond were covering stations and Village Ambulance was on-scene.
No cause had yet been determined; the department was waiting for the state fire marshal.
Rash said the owner was receiving a delivery and preparing to open the business when the fire was detected by staff. The blaze was controlled at about 4 p.m. but firefighters will remain on scene to check for hotspots.
"We're doing a thorough investigation," Rash said. "We'll be here probably most of the night."
Pittsfield Teens Found After Four-Hour Search
By: Staff Reports On: 11:13PM / Tuesday February 08, 2011
HANCOCK, Mass. — Emergency rescuers found two snowboarders lost in the Pittsfield State Forest after a four hour search.
According to police, Shaun Maynard and Anthony Shufelt, two Pittsfield residents in their late teens were snowboarding on the backside of the forest when they got lost.
The two used a cell phone to dial 911, which called into Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department, shortly after 6 p.m. The phone then lost service and the snowboarders attempted to hike back from where their starting point.
State police were coordinating the efforts by the environmental police, Hancock Fire and Rescue and the state Department of Recreation. The hikers were found at 10 p.m. by the environmental police. Neither were injured but both were taken to Berkshire Medical Center for evaluation.
Some 5 to 8 inches of snow had fallen over the region since Monday night and temperatures were plummeting as a cold front moved into the area along with high winds. Forecasters were predicting temperatures overnight to dip below zero with a wind-chill factor of 10 to 20 degrees below zero.
Searchers were reportedly using sirens in the area of Goodrich Hollow Road.
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HANCOCK, Mass. — Emergency rescuers found two snowboarders lost in the Pittsfield State Forest after a four hour search.
