Home About Archives RSS Feed

Firefighters Rescue Woman From Burning House

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff


Firefighters found Patricia Siciliano hanging from the window from bed sheets while staying on the phone with dispatchers.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters rescued a woman from a second-floor window Thursday night after an electrical fire trapped her in the bedroom.

According to Fire Director Steve Meranti,  firefighters responded about 10 p.m. to 176 Ashton Ave., where the blaze had trapped Patricia Siciliano inside her bedroom.

When they arrived, Siciliano was hanging out of the second-story window from bed sheets that she tied to her bed while still on the phone with dispatcher Amanda Cornellier. Acting Lt. Scott Barbeau and Ray King then rescued the woman in what Meranti called a "textbook operation."

"The first priority was rescue," Meranti said on Friday. "The dispatcher kept her on the phone... it was an excellent job on her part."

Siciliano was the only person inside the home at the time and was rescued just seven minutes after the initial call, Meranti said. She was then transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield to be treated for smoke inhalation. He condition is currently unknown.

But Siciliano was not the only one rescued from the fire. Firefighters Shaun Hayden and John Marlow rescued Siciliano's cat. The cat was taken to Greylock Animal Hospital and is reportedly doing fine, Meranti said. There were no other injuries.

The fire started in the lower portion of the attic and spread to an upper level. Firefighters ran a hose to the second floor and tore off the roof to get access. The fire was under control in about 30 minutes, Meranti said.

"The fire appears to be electrical in nature," Meranti said. "[Siciliano] was alerted by a crackling sound in the walls."

Berkshire Gas, National Grid and the city's wire and alarm division disconnected power and the Clarksburg Fire Department provided an air truck. The house suffered massive damage but is still structurally sound, Meranti said. Siciliano does have homeowners insurance, he said.

"The guys did a great job on this," Meranti said. "It was a great job by all."
     

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat
Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council
WCMA: 'Cracking the Code on Numerology'
BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator
Clark Art Screens 'Adaptation'
Drury High School to Host End-of-Year Showcase
Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests
MCLA Men's Lacrosse Falls in League Opener
Letter: Vote for Someone Other Than Trump

Police Logs

Pittsfield Police

North Adams

Crimewatch Links

North Adams CrimeWatch

Stamford/Clarksburg CrimeWatch

Pittsfield CrimeWatch

Emergency: 911
Adams 413-743-1212
Clarksburg 413-663-7795
Cheshire 413-743-1501
Dalton 413-684-0300
Great Barrington 413-528-0306
Lanesborough 413-443-4107
Lee 413-243-2100
Lenox 413-637-2346
North Adams 413-664-4944
Pittsfield 413-448-9700
Richmond 413-698-3315
Stockbridge 413-298-4179
Williamstown 413-458-5733
West Stockbridge 413-232-7938
State Police  
Cheshire Barracks
413-743-
4700
Lee Barracks 413-243-0600
Shaftsbury, Vt., Barracks 802-442-3263

 



Categories:
Adams (92)
Alford (0)
Becket (8)
Cheshire (23)
Clarksburg (41)
Dalton (6)
Egremont (2)
Florida (9)
Great Barrington (34)
Hancock (5)
Hinsdale (5)
Lanesborough (30)
Lee (14)
Lenox (11)
Monterey (0)
Mount Washington (1)
New Ashford (4)
New Marlborough (2)
North Adams (248)
Otis (2)
Peru (3)
Pittsfield (318)
Pownal (16)
Readsboro (17)
Richmond (10)
Sandisfield (5)
Savoy (6)
Sheffield (5)
Stamford (31)
State (1)
Stockbridge (6)
Tyringham (1)
Washington (1)
West Stockbridge (1)
Williamstown (79)
Windsor (3)
Archives:
Tags:
Pedestrians Hit & Run Police Investigation Drug Charges Stabbing Crime Watch Robbery Vehicle Assaults Rape Veremko Armed Robbery Heroin Buglaries Burglary Accident Drugs Larceny Homicide Search & Rescue Break-ins Fraud Motor Vehicle Mvi Search Motor Vehicle Accident Murder Motorcycles Shooting Assault Injuries Structure Fire Missing Persons Fatal Fire
Popular Entries:
Superior Court Briefs: March 14 - March 16
Fatal Accident Closes Route 8 in Adams
Superior Court Briefs: May 2 - May 6
Woman Pleads Guilty in Sandisfield Fatal Crash
Superior Court Briefs: March 28 - March 31
Pittsfield Woman Pleads Guilty in Husband's Slaying
Superior Court Briefs: May 18 - 19
Superior Court Briefs: March 8 - March 11
Superior Court Briefs: March 23 - March 24
New Ashford Crash Turns Fatal for Williamstown Man
Recent Entries:
State Police Bust $3M Illegal Pot Growing Operation in Savoy
First-Responders Searching for Lost Hiker on Mount Greylock
Pittsfield Driver Injured in Elm Street Accident
North Adams Police Investigate Possible Shooting Incident
Williamstown Police Looking into Cemetery Vandalism
Florida Woman Dies in Motorcycle Accident
Pittsfield Fire Responds to Kitchen Blaze
Juvenile Arrested in North Adams Shooting
North Adams Police Seeking Information on Shooting Incident
Pittsfield Police Seek Information on Sunday Night Shootings